Simulation-Based Education during COVID-19 Pandemic: Effect on Communication Skills and Clinical Competence of Maternity Nursing Students

Khalil Eshra, Dalal; Lotfi Afifi Alqersh, Doaa; Rashed, Amera Bekhatroh

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2022.249679

Simulation-Based Education during COVID-19 Pandemic: Effect on Communication Skills and Clinical Competence of Maternity Nursing Students

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Professor of Maternal and Newborn Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Menoufyia University, Egypt

² Lecturer of Maternal and Newborn Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Menoufyia University, Egypt

³ Assistant Professor of Maternal and Newborn Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Menoufyia University, Egypt

10.21608/ejhc.2022.249679

Abstract

Background: Simulation is a teaching strategy that may help the nursing educators prepare
the future nurses to practice in a real environment. It is a teaching strategy that provides students
with artificial representation of a complex real-life for enabling them to learn in a safe environment.
Based on its degree of realism; it ranges from low to high fidelity. Simulation played a critical role
during COVID-19 pandemic. With resources limitation, presented safety concerns and the need for
social distancing, simulation became a vital tool that provided solutions to challenges faced by
students and staff during clinical training. Purpose: assess the effect of simulation-based education
during COVID-19 on communication skills and clinical competence of maternity nursing students.
Methods: A quasi-experimental design (study & control group) was used. Sample: A purposive
sample was used in conducting the study. Sample size: was 100 students from third academic year
students at Faculty of Nursing, Menoufia University. Instruments: three instruments were used for
data collection (1) Semi-structured interviewing questionnaire, (2) Communication skills
measurement tool and (3) Clinical competence measurement tool. Results: communication skills
and clinical competence scores of the study group were higher than the control group after the
intervention. Conclusion: The current study findings supported the study hypothesis.

Keywords