High-fidelity simulation: a practice model for nurse educators at a South African private higher education institution

Abstract

Nursing education is confronted by many challenges. One of the challenges is the clinical skills development of student nurses. Student nurses’ clinical exposure is insufficient for clinical skills development due to limited available clinical placements and learning opportunities and reduced time spent with patients due to hospitalisation time, restrictions from medical aid schemes and less invasive procedures being performed on patients. The increased cost of healthcare has caused a decrease in patient bed occupation rates, which directly decreased the number of patients available for student nurses with whom to interact during work-integrated learning. Simulation training as an optional teaching-learning method creates an environment where collaboration and interactive participation take place, while clinical skills are developed and students are prepared for the nursing profession. The main aim of this research study was to develop a practice model for nurse educators at a South African private higher education institution to facilitate the implementation of high-fidelity simulation in clinical skills development of student nurses. The research design utilised a convergent mixed-methods, theory-generative and contextual research design. The study was conducted in two phases including two steps under each phase, and covering four objectives. Phase 1, step 1, consisted of identifying the main and related concepts as set for objectives 1 and 2, namely to describe the nurse educators’ current use of and experience of high-fidelity simulation, and to explore the nurse educators’ views/assumptions and beliefs of the implementation and use of high-fidelity simulation. All data gathered, synthesised, and concepts identified from objectives 1 and 2 led to step 2 of phase 1, where concepts were described and definitions were formulated. Objective 3 described a conceptual framework for the development of a practice model to implement high-fidelity simulation in the nursing programmes of a South African private higher education institution to facilitate student nurses’ clinical skills development. Phase 2 concluded objective 4, namely the development of a practice model to implement high-fidelity simulation to facilitate clinical skills development. The relational meaning of the main and related concepts was addressed in phase 2, step 1, from the concepts identified in phase 1. Step 2 of phase 2, consisted of the construction of the practice model through theory synthesis. The practice model could be implemented at the South African private higher education institution, which was selected as the focus of this research study.