Abstract

Nursing students' perceptions of learning vital signs in a clinical skills laboratory

Author(s): Jill Murphy, Liz Kingston

Background: the use of the clinical skills laboratories (CSL) has become increasingly popular within nurse education internationally and the role of simulation within clinical skills teaching has grown more sophisticated and complex. As students are afforded an opportunity to perfect their ability to perform clinical skills within the clinical skills laboratory, there are reports that patients can be the beneficiaries of improved care. This study focuses on Bachelor of Nursing Science (BSc) student’s perceptions of using an intermediate-fidelity simulator in the University’s Clinical Skills Laboratory to learn the skill of blood pressure.

Aim: to explore nursing student’s perceptions of learning vital signs in a clinical skills laboratory.

Method: using a quantitative approach, a sample (n=50) from the population of first year nursing students completed a questionnaire following two clinical skills teaching sessions, and then prior to their first clinical placement.

Findings: research results were positive. Over 80% strongly agreed that CSL facilitated a setting where learning and teaching could occur. Confidence, practice and learning from mistakes were some of the concepts highlighted in the study.

Conclusion: these findings are in line with international research and demonstrate that the clinical skill laboratories provide a realistic environment for practice.