Nursing students experience significant stress and anxiety entering specialty areas of nursing such as pediatrics. Improving students’ self-efficacy related to tasks commonly completed during clinical rotations such as assessment and medication administration will facilitate an enhanced learning environment. One proven method to improve preparation and allow for practice in healthcare is simulation. The use of simulation is a mainstay in nursing education. Pediatric clinical experiences can be a significant stressor for nursing students. Modalities to improve these experiences are integral for students’ success. The purpose of this project was to determine if the use of simulation throughout the pediatric clinical rotation improved registered nursing (RN) students’ self-efficacy related to assessment and medication administration?
Methods:
The framework for this project was social learning theory. It was applied to this project by providing practice through simulation to increase students’ knowledge and skills related to pediatric nursing in order to improve their self-efficacy. The design for this project was quasi-experimental. Thirty-five 3rd semester students in an associate degree nursing program participated in two different pediatric simulations throughout their pediatric clinical rotation. Twenty-two students completed a pre & post simulation self-efficacy survey and 29 participated in a focus group. Aggregate averages for each survey question were analyzed via a paired t-test. Focus group data were collected and analyzed for themes.
Results:
Student averages pre and post simulation for four of the five survey questions were statistically significant at the .05 level for a 2-tailed test. Most common themes derived from the focus groups were improved preparation, enhanced confidence, and requests for more simulations.
Conclusion:
The results indicate that the use of simulation can improve nursing students’ self-efficacy related to pediatric nursing. The quantitative and qualitative data both support that the use of simulation throughout the pediatric clinical rotation and improved student self-efficacy related to the areas of assessment and medication administration. As a result of this study faculty are planning to increase simulation opportunities in other courses.