Learning Clinical Skills in Nursing Education : Nursing Students´ Perspectives

Abstract

Learning clinical skills in clinical laboratory and simulation remained a key component in nursing education. The rapid development and used of technology in healthcare has increased the pressure on education institution to train all rounded nurses who can work in the current complex healthcare system. This has led to an increased in research on learning clinical skills laboratory and simulation, its importance and nursing students´ perspective. Over the last few years nursing education has evolved and, the use of technology in nursing education had taken a centre stage. Its common nowadays, education institutions to use simulators, game play, role play and virtual simulations in nursing education. The purpose of this literature review is to describe learning clinical skills laboratories and simulations and nursing students’ perspective. The aim is to produce knowledge to further develop the education of learning clinical laboratory skills and simulations.

The reviewed articles were obtained from CINAHL and Medline which are reliable database, using keywords such as clinical skills, simulations, nursing, or students´ perspective. Thirteen (n=13) articles met the eligibility criteria and therefore included in the review.

The results from the studies were analyzed using inductive content analysis. The findings from these studies have overwhelmingly shown that clinical skills and simulation had a positive impact on student knowledge and skill, self-efficacy levels, and affective learning outcomes. The studies have also shown some challenges such as lack of experienced teacher, inadequate equipment, and insufficient space.