The effectiveness of simulation-based training on the competency of military nurses: A systematic review

Abstract

Background: Simulation is an integral component of healthcare education and military training. There is substantial evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of simulation-based training in nursing and the military; however, its effectiveness for military nurses has not been established in systematic reviews.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of simulation-based training on the competency of military nurses and provide guidance for future research on the training of military nurses.

Design: A scoping literature review of PRISMA was used to guide the review.

Methods: Six databases (PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Embase, and the Cochrane Library) were searched for English articles. The following search terms were used in different combinations: simulation, simulate, military, army, nurses, competency, training, and education. Our database search began in 2000 and ended in February 2022. Additionally, we conducted a manual search of the references of the identified studies.

Results: In this review, ten studies published between 2008 and 2021 were included, nine were from the United States and one was from the United Kingdom. The results showed that simulation-based interventions were effective in military nurse competency training, including individual knowledge, skills, abilities and thinking, team communication and collaboration abilities, competency enhancement and maintenance. Simulations can effectively train the competencies of newly graduated military nurses, nurses during daily work, and in preparing nurses during deployment.

Conclusion: Existing studies on simulation-based training of military nurses are limited. Additional research is needed to assess other competency training for military nurses, pre-deployment training, and training using other simulation methods. It is important to find suitable simulation training methods for the different competencies required of military nurses.

Keywords: Competency; Military; Nurses; Simulation; Training.