NCSBN Releases Results of National Simulation Study

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwired - Aug 21, 2014) - The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN®), www.ncsbn.org, has released the findings of its award-winning research, "The NCSBN National Simulation Study: A Longitudinal, Randomized, Controlled Study Replacing Clinical Hours with Simulation in Prelicensure Nursing Education," which concluded that substituting high quality simulation experiences for up to half of traditional clinical hours produces comparable end of program educational outcomes to those students whose experiences are mostly just traditional clinical hours and produces new graduates that are ready for clinical practice.

The largest and most comprehensive research to date examining the use of simulation in the prelicensure nursing curriculum, this longitudinal study included incoming nursing students from 10 prelicensure programs across the U.S. who were randomized to one of three study groups:

• Control group (traditional clinical where up to 10 percent of clinical time was allowed in simulation)
• 25 percent simulation in place of traditional clinical hours
• 50 percent simulation in place of traditional clinical hours
  
  

The study began in the fall 2011 semester with the first clinical nursing course and continued throughout the core clinical courses to graduation in May 2013. Students were assessed on clinical competency and nursing knowledge. They provided ratings on how well they perceived their learning needs were met in both the clinical and simulation environments. A total of 666 students completed the study requirements at the time of graduation.

It was found that up to 50 percent simulation was effectively substituted for traditional clinical experience in all core courses across the prelicensure nursing curriculum. Additionally, the use of up to 50 percent simulation did not affect NCLEX pass rates.

Study participants were also followed into their first six months of clinical practice. The study found that there were no meaningful differences between the groups in critical thinking, clinical competency and overall readiness for practice as rated by managers at six weeks, three months and six months after working in a clinical position.

The full report is available as a supplement to Journal of Nursing Regulation (JNR) and can be accessed at https://www.ncsbn.org/2094.htm.

Founded March 15, 1978, as an independent not-for-profit organization, NCSBN was created to lessen the burdens of state governments and bring together boards of nursing (BONs) to act and counsel together on matters of common interest. NCSBN's membership is comprised of the BONs in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four U.S. territories -- American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands. There are also 21 associate members that are either nursing regulatory bodies or empowered regulatory authorities from other countries or territories.

NCSBN Member Boards protect the public by ensuring that safe and competent nursing care is provided by licensed nurses. These BONs regulate more than 3 million licensed nurses, the second largest group of licensed professionals in the U.S.

Mission: NCSBN provides education, service and research through collaborative leadership to promote evidence-based regulatory excellence for patient safety and public protection.

The statements and opinions expressed are those of NCSBN and not the individual member state or territorial boards of nursing.

National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.
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Chicago, IL 60601-4277