Learning nursing procedures: the influence of simulator fidelity and student gender on teaching effectiveness

J Nurs Educ. 2008 Sep;47(9):403-8. doi: 10.3928/01484834-20080901-09.

Abstract

Simulation technologies are gaining widespread acceptance across a variety of educational domains and applications. The current research examines whether basic nursing procedure training with high-fidelity versus low-fidelity mannequins results in differential skill acquisition and perceptions of simulator utility. Fifty-two first-year students were taught nasogastric tube and indwelling urinary catheter insertion in one of two ways. The first group learned nasogastric tube and urinary catheter insertion using high-fidelity and low-fidelity mannequins, respectively, and the second group learned nasogastric tube and urinary catheter insertion using low-fidelity and high-fidelity mannequins, respectively. The dependent measures included student performance on nasogastric tube and urinary catheter insertion testing, as measured by observer-based instruments, and self-report questionnaires probing student attitudes about the use of simulation in nursing education. Results demonstrated higher performance with high-fidelity than with low-fidelity mannequin training. In response to a self-report posttraining questionnaire, participants expressed a more positive attitude toward the high-fidelity mannequin, especially regarding its responsiveness and realism.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Attitude of Health Personnel*
  • Clinical Competence / standards*
  • Computer-Assisted Instruction / methods*
  • Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / methods*
  • Educational Measurement
  • Educational Technology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intubation, Gastrointestinal / nursing
  • Male
  • Manikins*
  • Nursing Education Research
  • Nursing Methodology Research
  • Observer Variation
  • Problem-Based Learning
  • Psychomotor Performance
  • Sex Factors
  • Students, Nursing / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Teaching / methods
  • Urinary Catheterization / nursing
  • User-Computer Interface