Nursing students’ experiences of multiprofessional simulation education

Abstract

Objective: To describe how nurse students specializing in acute nursing care and practical nurse students specializing in emergency care experienced a joint simulation education program and the usefulness of simulation education in general.
Methods: Data were collected using a questionnaire from nurse and practical nurse students (N = 21), who had together undertaken a multiprofessional simulation-based course. Quantitative data was analyzed using statistical methods, whereas inductive content analysis was conducted to analyze qualitative data.
Results: Respondents found simulation education useful for the development of theoretical and practical skills and interaction skills. Shared competence was appreciated. It consisted of sharing one’s knowledge, learning from others, learning together and learning teamwork skills. Respondents regarded multiprofessional simulation education as an effective method in learning how to deal with acute, recurrent or infrequent situations. Simulated learning also provided respondents with explicit experience of multiprofessional collaboration in emergency care and facilitated their learning of collegiality with help of constructive feedback.
Conclusions: Simulation education can promote nursing students’ technical and non-technical skills and help students form a clearer perception of multiprofessional collaboration. Careful planning and timing of joint simulated learning sessions is recommended.