| Educational technologies, particularly simulation-based learning, are used in numerous disciplines to train employees and to improve their competencies in the workplace. In hospitals, clinical simulators have not been readily accepted as a possible solution to enhancing the clinical competencies for nurses practicing at the bedside. Traditionally, hospital continuing education programs for nurses relied on lecture-based teaching methods and objective testing instruments to evaluate learning. However, patient care issues are increasingly becoming more complex and consequently, decisions and responsibilities of nurses are requiring a higher level of clinical competence. The use of high fidelity patient simulators in hospital nurse training programs is new and is used as an innovative technology to help nurses acquire the skills and decision-making abilities to enhance the quality of patient care. Employed in the study was a mixed qualitative and quantitative design that measured learning and explored how nurses perceived the usefulness of clinical simulators as a training modality. The study's participants included nurses who received instruction on how to assess breath sounds by a clinical simulator. Quantitative data originated using a pre- and post-test one-group design during each simulation session. Qualitative data originated using focus group discussions and debriefing sessions. A convenience sample of 63 hospital-employed nurses provided the participants for the study. Shown in the study findings was a positive relationship between the use of a clinical simulator and learning outcomes. Identified in the qualitative data analysis were several themes, which indicated that nurses perceived clinical simulators to be a useful educational tool to train nurses in hospital settings. |
