Nursing students' perception of high-fidelity simulation activity instead of clinical placement: A qualitative study

Abstract

Background: The high-fidelity simulation (HFS) has been utilized in nursing education for more than 20 years. Advantages of the use of high-fidelity simulation in nursing education have been documented in the literature. Based on the advantages, it has been arranged as a part of the clinical study course of the first year baccalaureate nursing program in one of the nursing colleges in Macau recently.

Objective: The aim of this study is to explore undergraduate nursing students' perception of using high-fidelity simulation as part of their clinical study course in Macau.

Design: This is a qualitative study using open-ended questionnaire.

Setting: This study was implemented at the nursing laboratory between 1 April and 17 April 2015, which was the period of preliminary clinical study course of year one nursing students.

Participants: A purposive sample was sought from the voluntary year one undergraduate nursing students who participated in the clinical study course.

Methods: Students received two high-fidelity simulation sections during the course, while a self-administered open-ended questionnaire was allocated afterward. Qualitative content analysis was performed after data collection.

Results: Two themes emerged in this study, which included "appreciation" and "misunderstanding". They were further divided into five categories; as "positive feelings", "gaining a suitable atmosphere for learning", "assist of adequate emergency preparation: resourceful ability", "contempt", and "rote learning".

Conclusion: This was the first time to utilize HFS activities as a part of the clinical study course in one nursing college in Macau. These HFS activities instead of a part of real clinical placement were appreciated by nursing students. And it mainly contributed to the resourceful ability in students' view. During the HFS activities, nursing educators should consider the misunderstanding of HFS activities of students that a few nursing students despised simulator's life and got rote learning method.

Keywords: Clinical education; High-fidelity simulation; Nursing students; Perception; Simulation.