To provide each student within a large cohort the opportunity to participate in a small group simulation that meets recognised quality indicators is a challenge for Bachelor of Nursing programs in Australia. This paper, as part of a larger longitudinal study, describes one approach used to manage a simulation for 375 1st year nursing students and to report on the quality of the experience from the student's perspective. To ensure quality was maintained within the large cohort, aspects of the simulation were assessed against the following indicators: alignment with curriculum pedagogy and goals; preparation of students and staff; fidelity; and debriefing. Data obtained from a student focus group were analysed in the context of the quality indicators. The following themes emerged from the data: knowing what to expect; assuming roles for the simulation; authenticity and thinking on your feet; feeling the RN role; and, preparation for clinical practice. This paper demonstrates it is possible to provide students in large cohorts with active participatory roles in simulations whilst maintaining quality indicators.

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Background: The use of simulation has been growing rapidly within nursing programs, internationally. Simulation provides opportunity for beginning nursing students to rehearse patient care experiences and develop confidence in technical and non-technical nursing skills. Methods: This study used a quantitative pre-post online survey to investigate: the components of the integrated simulation experience that assisted with learning; students' confidence in caring for patients comparable to patients experienced in the simulation and their overall satisfaction with the simulation experience. Results: A total of 480 students participated in a simulation prior to clinical practicum and 452 (94.16 completed the survey questions). Guidance by the academic and clinical facilitator, and the film watched prior to participating in the active simulation encounter, were highlighted as components which provided most assistance to students in their learning. A significant increase in confidence in caring for patients like those in the integrated simulation experience was noted between the pre-and post-simulation surveys. Prior experience in nursing was seen to significantly influence confidence. Conclusions: Providing simulation encounters for large student cohorts although challenging, is achievable and rated highly by students. This study indicates that the integrated simulation experience has a positive impact on beginning students' feelings of confidence for managing similar patients in the clinical setting. Further research is required to explore how and why the guidance of the teacher and facilitator, and the use of a film which models nurse behaviour prior to the simulation, are viewed as of most assistance to beginning students. Additionally, future research must explore the impact simulation has on confidence and performance during and subsequent to clinical practicum. Simulation has a great capacity to augment the preparation of students for clinical practicum and for the development of clinical judgement, clinical skills and role identity.

Peer review of teaching is recognized increasingly as one strategy for academic development even though historically peer review of teaching is often unsupported by policy, action and culture in many Australian universities. Higher education leaders report that academics generally do not engage with peer review of teaching in a systematic or constructive manner, and this paper advances and analyses a conceptual model to highlight conditions and strategies necessary for the implementation of sustainable peer review in higher education institutions. The model highlights leadership, development and implementation, which are critical to the success and formation of a culture of peer review of teaching. The work arises from collaborative research funded by the Office for Learning and Teaching to foster and advance a culture of peer review of teaching across several universities in Australia.Keywords: leadership; organizational development; peer learning; professional development; scholarship of teaching and learning IntroductionBased on research undertaken to embed peer review of teaching within the culture of four Australian universities, this paper addresses issues related to pedagogy development and highlights a cultural change model for integration of peer review of teaching. Peer review of teaching in higher education is an example of professional innovation that seeks to encourage constructive feedback on teaching and learning practice, which, if sustained, can become an effective ongoing strategy for academic development. Achieving sufficient commitment from stakeholders for success can be a significant challenge, but is not impossible, as our case studies will reveal.The old adage 'those who teach learn twice' holds true for peer review of teaching, especially when designed and embedded as a supportive process characterized by reciprocal relationships. Educational innovations in the higher education sector can be challenging and embedding innovation into the culture of daily practice even harder. Commitment is needed from the many stakeholders including faculty staff, influential leaders, policy-makers, committees and staff at the ground level. Peer review of teaching is recognized increasingly as one strategy for academic development (Barnard et al.

The creation of a curriculum blueprint appropriate to the development of a professional nurse who is practice-ready for the current and future context of health service delivery must take account of the extant context as well as an unpredictable and sometimes ambiguous future. The curriculum renewal process itself ought to challenge existing long held ideals, practices, and sacred cows within the health and higher education sectors. There is much to consider and importantly curriculum developers need to be mindful of reform within the health sector and health workforce education, as well as the concomitant vision and requirements of the nursing profession. Curriculum must develop more than discipline knowledge and skills: it must provide an infrastructure for generic abilities both social and intellectual in order to better prepare students for the registered nurse role. This paper discusses a number of forces that are essential to consider in curriculum development in undergraduate nursing education.