Outcomes Educating Nursing Students Using an Evolving, Simulated Case Scenario

Abstract

BackgroundWith patients becoming more complex and presenting with multiple comorbid diagnoses, exposing students to multidimensional care situations in a controlled, simulated environment is one way to better prepare nursing students to enter clinical practice. The National League for Nursing Advancing Care Excellence for Veterans (ACE.V) developed an unfolding case study of a pregnant veteran with posttraumatic stress disorder to train nursing students in a simulation laboratory. MethodThis is a descriptive evaluation of safety, communication, assessment, and educational intervention skills of 253 undergraduate nursing students undergoing training using the ACE.V in three simulated environments: in a short-stay mental health care unit, at home, and in an obstetrical unit. ResultsAcross the four skill sets, students were most likely to achieve the communication skills. Students' skills improved as the case evolved through the three time-sequenced care environments. ConclusionThe use of a simulated, evolving case scenario was an effective method of exposing nursing students to complex patient care.