Nursing Students' Perceptions of Communication and Collaboration Skills in Simulation at a Midwest Technical Colleg

The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study at a Midwest technical college was to determine if associate degree nursing (ADN) students' perceptions of communication and collaboration skills change following exposure to a high-risk patient simulated teaching environment. A survey utilizing a five point Likert scale was administered prior to and following the simulation experience. A paired t test measuring communication and collaboration skills was utilized to analyze the data. No statistically significant change was found in eight out of the 10 categories measuring perceptions of communication and collaboration skills. The two categories, which demonstrated statistically significant change, revealed that students' perceptions regarding their collaboration skills in the exchange of information and ability to care for the patient became more positive following high-risk simulation. The results from the study indicated that nursing students' perceptions of communication and collaboration skills were high prior to the high-risk simulation experience. Further research is needed to add to the literature and support the development of students' perceptions of communication and collaboration skills in high-risk patient situations in simulation as they progress toward degree completion and transition into professional practice.