Improving Success of CEGEP Nursing Students with Simulation

Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec – January, 28, 2021. Announced by the Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur at the end of 2020, researchers from Cégep Heritage College and John Abbott College were awarded a grant as part of the 2020-2021 call for projects within the Canada-Québec Agreement on Higher Education.

This project: Modifying Clinical to Simulation Ratio: The Impact on Québec Nursing Students’ Success, Cognitive Load and Mental Wellness is the hypothesis of Denyse April, RN, BScN, M.Ed and Nursing teacher of Cégep Heritage College along with Ute Beffert, RN BScN MEd. and Nursing Co-Chairperson and Jane Pearsall RN, BNSc., M.Ed and Nursing Instructor both of John Abbott College, all of whom will share in the execution of the project.

This 1-year grant of $182,430 has been extended due to the limitations imposed by COVID-19.

Project summary:
Diminishing numbers and availability of appropriate clinical placements has been a perennial challenge for nurse educators. As such, the use of high-fidelity simulation has been used to replace some in-hospital clinical experience hours over the past decade.
Recent research has shown that simulation appears to be a more concentrated and efficient teaching methodology compared to traditional hospital learning suggesting a 2:1 clinical to simulation ratio. Researchers April, Beffert and Pearsall plan to investigate how 8 hours of simulation (equivalent to one traditional clinical day) versus 4 hours of simulation will impact student success, while maintaining the connection to the multicultural aspects of the obstetrical clinical experience.
Additionally, insight into whether decreasing student workload through reduced simulation hours will have a positive effect on students’ mental health will be of major interest.