Expanding Simulation Capacity: Senior-Level Students as Teachers.

Abstract

The effectiveness of using senior-level nursing students as teachers to junior-level students in simulated learning was examined in a prelicensure nursing program. Simulation requires considerable financial resources in faculty time and effort. It was theorized that using senior students as teachers for junior students in peer-assisted simulation for learning health assessment clinical skills would offer an equally effective learning experience as faculty instructors. A total of 60 junior-level students were randomized into a simulated learning experience taught by 20 senior-level students or nursing faculty. Evaluation of junior students' clinical performance, postsimulation debriefing assessment, and satisfaction with the simulation learning experience indicated that senior nursing students were equally effective as faculty simulation instructors. Findings suggest that the Senior Students as Teachers program, using the train-the-trainer model, was successful in preparing students as simulation instructors and has the potential for reducing faculty time and cost, as well as enhance student peer-to-peer learning.