Skip to main content
Log in

Developing clinical competency in crisis event management: an integrated simulation problem-based learning activity

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Advances in Health Sciences Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the integration of a simulation based learning activity on nursing students’ clinical crisis management performance in a problem-based learning (PBL) curriculum. It was hypothesized that the clinical performance of first year nursing students who participated in a simulated learning activity during the PBL session would be superior to those who completed the conventional problem-based session. The students were allocated into either simulation with problem-based discussion (SPBD) or problem-based discussion (PBD) for scenarios on respiratory and cardiac distress. Following completion of each scenario, students from both groups were invited to sit an optional individual test involving a systematic assessment and immediate management of a simulated patient facing a crisis event. A total of thirty students participated in the first post test related to a respiratory scenario and thirty-three participated in the second post test related to a cardiac scenario. Their clinical performances were scored using a checklist. Mean test scores for students completing the SPBD were significantly higher than those who completing the PBD for both the first post test (SPBD 20.08, PBD 18.19) and second post test (SPBD 27.56, PBD 23.07). Incorporation of simulation learning activities into problem-based discussion appeared to be an effective educational strategy for teaching nursing students to assess and manage crisis events.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alinier, G., Hunt, B., Gordon, R., & Harwood, C. (2006). Effectiveness of intermediate-fidelity simulation training technology in undergraduate nursing education. Advanced Journal of Nursing, 54(3), 359–369.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beyea, S. C., & Kobokovich, L. (2004). Human patient simulation: A teaching strategy. AORN Journal, 80, 738–742.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dolmans, D. H. J. M., Grave, W. D., Wolfhagen, H. A. P., & Van der Vleuten, C. P. M. (2005). Problem-based learning: future challenges for educational practice and research. Medical Education, 39(7), 732–741.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dolmans, D. H. J. M., Guselaers, W. H., & Scemidt, H. G. (1993). Course content coverage as a measure of instructional quality. Evaluation & the Health Professions, 16(4), 448–457.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feingold, C. E., Calaluce, M., & Kallen, M. A. (2004). Computerized patient model and simulated clinical experiences: Evaluation with baccalaureate nursing students. Journal of Nursing Education, 43(4), 156–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Franklin, C., & Mathew, J. (1994). Developing strategies to prevent in hospital cardiac arrest: Analyzing responses of physicians and nurses in the hours before the event. Critical Care Medicine, 22, 244–247.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gibson, J. M. E. (1997). Focus of nursing in critical and acute care settings: Prevention or cure? Intensive and Critical Care Nursing, 13, 163–166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gordon, J. A., Oriol, N. E., & Cooper, J. B. (2004). Bringing good teaching cases “to life”: A simulator-based medical education service. Academic Medicine, 79(1), 23–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hodgson, V. (1997). Lectures and experience of relevance. In V. Hodgson (Ed.), The experience of learning: Implications for teaching and studying in higher education (pp. 165–178). Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Issenberg, S. B., McGaghie, W. C., Petrusa, E. R., Lee Gordon, D., & Scalese, R. J. (2005). Features and uses of high-fidelity medical simulation that lead to effective learning: A BEME systematic review. Medical Teacher, 27(1), 10–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Issenberg, S. B., & Scalese, R. J. (2007). Best evidence on high-fidelity simulation: What clinical teachers need to know. The Clinical Teacher, 4(2), 73–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jeffries, P. R. (2002). A framework for designing, implementing, and evaluating simulations used as teaching strategies in nursing. Nursing Education Perspectives, 26, 96–103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mamede, S., Schmidt, H. G., & Norman, G. R. (2006). Innovations in problem-based learning: What can we learn from recent studies? Advances in Health Sciences Education, 11, 403–422.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McArthur-Rouse, F. (2001). Critical care outreach services and early warning scoring systems: A review of the literature. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 36(5), 696–704.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nehring, W. M., Ellis, W. E., & Lashley, F. R. (2001). Human patient simulations in nursing education: An overview. Simulation Gaming, 32, 194–204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Radhakrishnan, K., Roche, J. P., & Cunningham, H. (2007). Measuring clinical practice parameters with human patient simulation: A pilot study. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship, 4(1), 1–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steadman, R. H., Coates, W. C., Huang, Y. M., Matevosian, R., Larmon, B. R., McCullough, L., et al. (2006). Simulation-based training is superior to problem-based learning for the acquisition of critical assessment and management skills. Critical Care Medicine, 34(1), 151–157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weller, J. M. (2004). Simulation in undergraduate medical education: Bridging the gap between theory and practice. Medical Education, 38(1), 32–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wenk, M., Waurick, R. Schotes, D., Wenk, M., Gerdes, C., Van Aken, H.K. & Popping D.M. (2008). Simulation-based medical education is no better than problem-based discussions and induces misjudgment in self-assessment. Advance in Health Science Education. Retrieved June, 20, 2008, from http://springerlink.metapress.com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/content/l716p3017375183n/fulltext.pdf.

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by a teaching enhancement grant from National University of Singapore Center for Development of Teaching and Learning to Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies. We thank Prof Debra Creedy, PhD, RN, for her review of the manuscript and Moon Fai Chan for his statistical consultation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Y. Liaw.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Liaw, S.Y., Chen, F.G., Klainin, P. et al. Developing clinical competency in crisis event management: an integrated simulation problem-based learning activity. Adv in Health Sci Educ 15, 403–413 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10459-009-9208-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10459-009-9208-9

Keywords

Navigation