Interprofessional simulation in undergraduate nursing program: An integrative review

Objectives: Interprofessional (IP) competencies are critical for successful collaborative practice. Nurse education, through interprofessional simulation, plays a critical role in preparing nursing students achieve these competencies. Although considerable research has been conducted on this topic, a broader perspective is lacking. This review systematically appraised and synthesized evidence examining the effects of interprofessional simulation on nursing students’ outcomes. Design: An integrative review method guided this review. Data Sources: Five databases (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, SCOPUS, PubMed, PsychINFO, and MEDLINE) were searched to locate articles published from 2010 onwards. Search and MeSH terms included: interprofessional, interdisciplinary, simulation, nurse education, nursing, and student. Thirty (30) articles were included in this review. Results: Findings of content analysis revealed five essential themes: interprofessional communication, appreciation of interprofessional team roles, interprofessional teamwork or collaboration, self-confidence or self-efficacy, and positive attitudes or readiness toward interprofessional learning. Conclusions: This review provides a current state of knowledge on the efficacy of interprofessional simulation in enhancing interprofessional learning and competencies in nursing students. However, more research should be done utilizing a more robust method of research and reliable assessment methods. Through interprofessional simulation experiences, nurse academe can adequately prepare nursing students for future collaborative practice. Inclusions of interprofessional simulation activities in all clinical nursing courses can help prepare nursing students achieve inter-professional learning.