Key Findings

The key findings of the project are:

• A strong supportive community of practice for educators with a responsibility for undergraduate nursing education and simulation requires a focused commitment. It also requires time and opportunity to explore aspects of simulation as a teaching and learning approach and the desire to further this educational modality within the New Zealand context.
• The goal of any educational intervention, whether it is a focused skill, simulation-based scenario, clinical decision making or team work exercise, is to increase the knowledge and breadth of the students’ learning. From this, the lecturer needs to utilise best practices in using simulation as a teaching method.
• Simulation is an interactive and innovative teaching and learning strategy that has opportunity to provide effective consolidation of clinical knowledge and skills into nursing practice.
• As a teaching method, simulation requires thorough planning and organisation to ensure relevance to clinical nursing practice, the student participants and the clinical environment. Adherence to carefully constructed scenarios utilising relevant nursing skills, nursing knowledge, clinical decision making and reflective thinking contributes to an effective learning environment that reinforces the critical thinking and learning for the student.

Key Recommendations

The key recommendations from the project are:

Annual forum | An annual forum needs to continue within New Zealand whereby attendees are supported by their respective institutions to further develop and nurture the skills, knowledge, sharing of ideas and networking amongst the simulation specialists.

Further collaborative research | There is definite scope for further collaborative research between institutions and schools of nursing. Engaging in the collaborative community of practice would be a cornerstone for lecturers in terms of awareness of current New Zealand and international simulation research. The community of practice would also allow the engagement and dialogue for potential research initiatives and allow lecturers to network and openly discuss research opportunities.

Community of practice web page | The community of practice web page needs to be continually promoted through respective networks, publications and conference activities and presentations. As mentioned previously the uptake by the workshop attendees was slower than expected and whilst it is recognised that other avenues are utilised to communicate, the web page is an ideal location in which to engage.

Simulation delivery | There is further scope to determine the breadth and use of simulation within New Zealand schools of nursing curricula. While this project has introduced the notion of working more collaboratively and effectively, and there is no set requirement regarding prescribed hours of simulation within nursing training, there is definite opportunity to further explore simulation delivery in relation to teaching and learning methodologies.