Virtual patients for assessment of clinical reasoning in nursing — A pilot study

Abstract

In different nursing programmes, one important learning outcome is clinical reasoning (CR) skills. However, to date, there is limited number of methods available for assessment of CR skills; especially for distance-based courses. This study investigates students' opinions about the feasibility of using Virtual Patients (VPs) for assessing CR in nursing education. VPs were introduced as an assessment tool in three different nursing courses at two universities, comprising 77 students in total. Students' overall acceptance of this assessment tool, including its applicability to the practise of nursing and the potential of VP-based assessment as a learning experience, were investigated using questionnaires. Course directors used the Web-SP system to assess students' interactions with VPs and their answers regarding diagnoses, caring procedures and their justifications. Students' found the VP cases to be realistic and engaging, and indicate a high level of acceptance for this assessment method. In addition, the students' indicated that VPs were good for practising their clinical skills, although some would prefer that the VP system be less "medical" and asked for more focus on nursing. Although most students supplied correct diagnoses and made adequate clinical decisions, there was a wide range in their ability to explain their clinical reasoning processes.

The effect of human patient simulation on critical thinking and its predictors in prelicensure nursing students

“…c o m / n e d t been suggested as a means of improving CT skills (Ravert, 2008;Sullivan-Mann et al, 2009), this remains unsubstantiated as findings among studies are not congruent and many relied on student or faculty perceptions of CT (Cant and Cooper, 2009). The ability of a nurse to critically think is a common theme in nursing programs (Forsberg et al, 2011). Due to its importance to safe patient care, eliminating gaps in this area of research is important.…”

Effect of Electronic Interactive Simulation on Senior Bachelor of Science in Nursing Students' Critical Thinking and Clinical Judgment Skills

“…In the absence of actual clinical experiences, simulation gives students a safe environment to practice and develop critical thinking and clinical judgment skills (Jeffries, 2007). Consequently, the use of simulation has increased dramatically in nursing education (Aebersold, Tschannen, & Bathish, 2012;Forsberg, Georg, Ziegert, & Fors, 2011;Guise, Chambers, & V€ alim€ aki, 2012).…”

European Pharmacy Students' Experience With Virtual Patient Technology

“…However, methods for using virtual patient programs as assessment tools in medical and nurse education may differ from those used in pharmacy. 31,32 Computer-assisted learning, including virtual patient technology, may be considered a privileged means for developing important skills, such as interpersonal communication. 33 Virtual patient technology enables universal access to specific standardized clinical situations, allowing for repeated practice, even if the quality of the communication does not necessarily match that of a simulated patient in terms of emotional content.…”