Evaluation of Simulation in Undergraduate Nurse Education: An Integrative Review

Background: Although nearly two decades have passed since the introduction of simulation in nurse education, many nurse educators continue to struggle with how to evaluate the effectiveness of simulations. The aim of this review was to synthesize the research findings regarding evaluation of simulation in undergraduate nurse education. Methods: One hundred and one articles were reviewed. Results: Synthesis of research revealed the following five themes: confidence/self-efficacy, satisfaction, anxiety/stress, skills/knowledge, and interdisciplinary experiences. Evidence regarding minimal level of fidelity needed to produce significant learning outcomes was inconclusive. Recommendations and future directions are provided. Conclusion: More robust educational research in simulation is warranted. (C) 2013 International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.