Students' perceived benefits of pre-clinical simulation based training (PSBT) on enhancing patient safety and clinical learning outcomes

Aim of the study: The study assessed the undergraduate nursing students' perceptions on potential benefits of the pre-clinical simulation based training on enhancing patient safety, knowledge, skills and confidence. Methodology: A non -experimental quantitative survey was conducted among a convenient sample of 57 undergraduate nursing students at a Middle Eastern University. Data collection: Data were collected from undergraduate nursing students who were enrolled in the Maternal Health Clinical Nursing Course in the summer and fall semesters of 2012. Participants self-rated a 50 item 4-point Likert scale questionnaire during the last week of their course. Findings: The majority (95%) of students agreed that their knowledge on antenatal, postnatal and newborn care were enhanced by pre-clinical simulation based training. Most students (94.3%) commented that pre-clinical simulation based training enhanced their patient safety practices and 86.48% students rated its advantage on enhancing clinical skill competency. The majority of students (93.9%) reported that pre-clinical simulation based training offered an academically safe environment that enhanced their confidence. Overall 87.93% of the students expressed satisfaction with pre-clinical simulation based training. Conclusion: The findings suggest that implementing pre-clinical based simulation training across all clinical courses empowers students towards patient safety skills. The findings also revealed that simulation training offered an opportunity for male students to develop clinical skills and confidence in the care of female patients, which is otherwise compromised due to socio-cultural expectations.