FIRST-YEAR nursing students’ experiences of simulation involving care of older patients : A descriptive and exploratory study

• Mastering geriatric nursing skills takes time and its acquisition should start early in undergraduate nursing training. The purpose of this study is to synthesise and evaluate the learning experiences that first-year nursing students had following geriatric patient simulation and practice of clinical patient handover. Qualitative content analysis of survey comments from first-year students (n = 216) at a large university in Norway were performed. Simulation training included systematic patient observation of scenarios based on genuine geriatric cases in nursing homes and practice of clinical patient handover. Content analyses identified four generic categories: (1) ‘embodying theoretical knowledge’; (2) ‘increased awareness about one's self’; (3) ‘understanding that collaboration is needed’; (4) ‘preparing for future work life’. These themes provide evidence for students integrating geriatric theoretical knowledge with clinical skills as a result of simulation. Analysis of learning experiences shows that geriatric scenario simulation and practice of clinical patient handover are valuable instruments before entering clinical training with geriatric patients, even for novice students. The use of genuine simulation cases and instruction on the use of clinical handover instruments are effective in producing conceptual changes that prepare students for their first encounter with complex, real-world geriatric scenarios.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Annan medicin och hälsovetenskap -- Gerontologi, medicinsk/hälsovetenskaplig inriktning (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Other Medical and Health Sciences -- Gerontology, specialising in Medical and Health Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

adult

article

awareness

clinical handover

content analysis

exploratory research

female

geriatric patient

human

major clinical study

male

Norway

nursing home

nursing student

simulation training

skill

theoretical study

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)