In many industries, you can learn from the mistakes you make on the job and improve over time. In the world of medicine and healthcare, a mistake made on the job could prove to be deadly. So it’s important that we improve how we train nurses and other practitioners before they find themselves in high-leverage situations.
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What Are Simulation Labs?
According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), clinical simulation is any event or activity that replicates clinical practice scenarios using manikins and/or standardized patients in a role playing capacity. In other words, it’s a simulated version of the real thing – e.g., a human patient.
According to research from the NCSBN, 87 percent of prelicensure nursing programs were using some form of simulation labs in 2010. A decade later, that number is closer to 100 percent participation. And in a comparative study of the efficacy of simulation labs, there are no statistical differences in clinical competency between students who do 100 percent of their clinical experiences in a traditional patient setting and those who do up to 50 percent of their training in simulation labs. In fact, many of the students participating in a higher percentage of simulation labs show greater proficiency.
While the terms are often used interchangeably, it’s important to emphasize the fact that skills labs and simulation labs are not one and the same.
A skills lab is where nursing students learn and practice different nursing skills, such as checking vitals, conducting evaluations, and inserting IVs. It’s where you put theory into action.
A simulation lab takes things another step further by bridging the gap that previously existed between skills labs and clinical rotations by providing a life-like setting where newly acquired skills are put into action in mock nursing scenarios with careful observation from highly-trained professionals.
The Benefits of Simulation Labs in Nursing Education
Simulation labs play a critically important role in nursing education. Some of the specific benefits include:
1. Lower Stakes
One of the biggest perks of simulation labs is the ability for nursing students to move beyond the textbook and actually apply techniques without any real-world risk. It lowers the stakes and invites an environment where trial and error can happen without putting anyone’s health in danger.
This is something the Marquette Masters of Nursing Program finds useful as they train tomorrow’s nursing leaders.
“It’s our goal to make you feel like you are in a real-life situation, but without the fear of hurting someone,” Marquette University Nursing tells students. “This means you will have the opportunity to make mistakes, learn from them, and try again, under the guidance of trusted instructors.”
Most other schools and programs around the country take a similar approach in their training. And the more sophisticated the technology is, the better the results.
2. Real-Time Analysis
In a traditional clinical setting (where a nursing student is interacting with an actual patient), it isn’t always appropriate for the attending nurse or doctor to critique the student in front of the patient. This requires the attending professional to remember key details and discuss afterward.
With advanced video recording for simulation labs, real-time observation allows for high-level debriefing and specific feedback. Not only can issues be brought up in the moment, but video recordings can be played back for further evaluation afterward. This is a much more effective approach.
3. Repetition
In traditional clinical settings with actual patients, nursing students can only be exposed to the scenarios that are naturally present. (You can’t invent a situation to give a student experience.)
With simulation labs, any scenario can be created in advance or “on the fly” to expose students to specific issues and nuances. Even more beneficial is the fact that scenarios can be done over and over again until the student perfects a skill or technique. This repetition is invaluable.
4. Rethinking Nursing Education
While nursing simulation labs have been around for a while now, the technology has advanced a tremendous amount over the past few years. This has only increased and enhanced the value that they provide the healthcare community. And whether you’re a nursing student, current healthcare professional, healthcare administrator, or simply a patient…you’re directly benefiting from this incredible technology.
