Effects of simulation in improving the self-confidence of student nurses in clinical practice: a systematic review

Abstract

Background Considering the positive influence of simulation from previous literature may encourage educators to regard it as a valuable teaching strategy in nursing schools. This literature review aims to investigate whether the use of simulation improves undergraduate nurses’ self-confidence during clinical practice. Methodology This study employed a literature-based design. Five academic databases, including CINAHL, EBSCO, ProQuest, PubMed and Medline, were utilised to extract relevant studies using appropriate keywords and Boolean operators. Studies published in the last 15 years (2005–2020) were included in the search. Studies were retrieved using the Exclusion and Inclusion criteria. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) was used to critically appraise the studies. Results A total of 15 primary research studies were extracted for review. Four major themes emerged from the review: Improved self-confidence to carry out clinical tasks, Increased ability to work in teams, Improved self-confidence to perform community work and Improved self-confidence in communicating with patients and team members. Conclusion Clinical simulation is a useful tool in increasing the self-confidence of nursing students to perform clinical tasks, make clinical judgements, communicate with patients and team members and improve their teamwork. To improve the quality of care received by patients, it is recommended that clinical simulations be integrated into the nursing curriculum in Saudi Arabia. Increasing the confidence of students has been shown to be associated with greater confidence in performing clinical tasks.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Standardized Patient Simulation as a Teaching Method in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing

“…Several studies found that simulated patient-based training endows students with high levels of self-confidence by improving their clinical competencies and communication skills in psychiatric settings and enhancing their abilities to carry out clinical tasks and abilities to work in teams. Moreover, the participating students felt confident and prepared for real-world encounters with mental health patients [ 21 , 24 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. Meanwhile, Johnson et al [ 25 ] reported that using standardized patient simulation for first-semester nursing students was not effective in improving their self-confidence.…”

Simulation in contemporary medical education: Current practices and the way forward

“…[ 2 ] It has been well documented that increased exposure to clinical skills improves competency, improving patient care. [ 3 4 ] However, training on actual patients is challenging due to ethical issues and practical limitations. Thus, the need of the hour is to facilitate learning in an environment close to real-time situations to acquire the required competent skills.…”

Effects of Standardized Patient Simulation and Mobile Applications on Nursing Students’ Clinical Competence, Self-Efficacy, and Cultural Competence: A Quasi-Experimental Study

“…Standardized patient simulation, in particular, plays a crucial role in creating immersive and realistic scenarios in nursing education [8,9]. Integrating standardized patients into simulation-based nursing education significantly enhances the authenticity and consistency of scenarios, allowing the transfer of theoretical knowledge to practical settings [10,11]. This approach facilitates the development of essential skills and competencies while also fostering a deep understanding of the art and essence of nursing by acknowledging the holistic nature of human beings and delivering patient-centered care [11].…”

“…This approach facilitates the development of essential skills and competencies while also fostering a deep understanding of the art and essence of nursing by acknowledging the holistic nature of human beings and delivering patient-centered care [11]. Previous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of simulation-based nursing education in developing a wide range of skills and competencies crucial for nursing practice, including developing practical skills, reacting and thinking in real situations, communication skills, clinical practice competency, empathy, and self-confidence to provide humanized nursing care [10,12].…”