Educating Nursing Students About Female Genital Cutting/Mutilation Using a Standardized Patient in a Virtual Dramatization Simulation

Abstract

Introduction: Female genital cutting/mutilation (FGC/M) is a ritual to remove any or all of the external female genitalia. Educational strategies regarding the teaching of FGC/M for nursing students are scarce. The focus of this article is to describe the development, implementation, and evaluation of a virtual, FGC/M-related dramatization simulation with a standardized patient (SP). Methods: This educational intervention used an East African immigrant woman as the SP with 35 undergraduate nursing students in two nursing schools in the Midwest United States. Results: Participants appraised the simulation as an effective way to teach and learn about FGC/M. Debriefing was a key part of the simulation. Discussion: Students felt the simulation was novel and engaging for a highly sensitive topic. The SP thought the virtual setting made it more comfortable for her to reveal sensitive facts. The researchers confirmed that the simulation required extensive time commitment to develop, critique, and implement.