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The impact of virtual simulation on the recognition and response to the rapidly deteriorating patient among undergraduate nursing students.

Goldsworthy, Sandra; Muir, Nita; Baron, Sue; Button, Didy; Goodhand, Kate; Hunter, Steve; McNeill, Liz; Perez, Grace; McParland, Tammie; Fasken, Lisa; Peachey, Laurie

Authors

Sandra Goldsworthy

Nita Muir

Sue Baron

Didy Button

Kate Goodhand

Steve Hunter

Liz McNeill

Grace Perez

Tammie McParland

Lisa Fasken

Laurie Peachey



Abstract

A major patient safety challenge is recognition and response to deteriorating patients since early warning signs are often not detected in a timely manner. Nursing students typically learn the skills for early identification through clinical placement, but clinical placements are not guaranteed to provide exposure to deteriorating patients. Nursing students require practice with emergency scenarios to develop their competency and confidence to act in this area. This study aimed to explore the impact of a virtual simulation intervention on the recognition and response to the rapidly deteriorating patient among undergraduate nursing students. A mixed methods study involving a quasi-experimental pre/post design and focus groups. The participants were third or final year undergraduate nursing students from five university sites across four countries (Canada, England, Scotland and Australia, n = 88). Students were randomly assigned to a treatment or control group. The treatment group received a virtual simulation intervention and participated in a focus group. The virtual simulation intervention had a significant effect on improving nursing student knowledge and clinical self-efficacy in the recognition and response to the rapidly deteriorating patient. Students reported that the virtual simulations decreased anxiety, helped them prioritize, filled gaps in their learning, and encouraged autonomous learning within a safe ‘low risk’ environment. Virtual simulation is an effective strategy for improving knowledge and confidence in recognizing and responding to the rapidly deteriorating patient among undergraduate nursing students.

Citation

GOLDSWORTHY, S., MUIR, N., BARON, S., BUTTON, D., GOODHAND, K., HUNTER, S., MCNEILL, L., PEREZ, G., MCPARLAND, T., FASKEN, L. and PEACHEY, L. 2022. The impact of virtual simulation on the recognition and response to the rapidly deteriorating patient among undergraduate nursing students. Nurse education today [online], 110, article 105264. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2021.105264

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Dec 29, 2021
Online Publication Date Jan 3, 2022
Publication Date Mar 31, 2022
Deposit Date Jan 17, 2022
Publicly Available Date Jan 4, 2023
Journal Nurse Education Today
Print ISSN 0260-6917
Electronic ISSN 1532-2793
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 110
Article Number 105264
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2021.105264
Keywords Virtual simulation; Simulation; Nursing students; Nursing; Deteriorating patient; Patient safety; Clinical placement; Nursing student's safety
Public URL https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/1569510

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