Skills for safe practice - A qualitative study to evaluate the use of simulation in safeguarding children teaching for pre-registration children's nurses

Safeguarding children teaching is a required component in all pre-registration nursing curricula. A structured approach to this teaching as part of preparation for registration as a children's nurse was developed jointly by the Course Leader and the Designated Nurse for Safeguarding Children. This approach aims to equip children's nurses with the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed for safe practice. A key element in this curriculum is simulation, where students must assess injuries on manikins, select and complete appropriate documentation, and perform a nursing handover. Simulation has recognised value in nurse education but its use in safeguarding children teaching for student children's nurses has not previously been widely reported. This small-scale qualitative study explored the student experience and the impact of simulation teaching in the development of relevant knowledge and the core safeguarding skill set of observation, interpretation, documentation and communication. The methodology for this small, qualitative study was triangulated, comprising observation of the simulation teaching and two sets of semi-structured interviews. The resultant data was investigated using thematic analysis. The outcome of the study suggested that students were able to transfer learning from the simulation into clinical practice, and that simulation as an approach to safeguarding children teaching resonated with the students' preferred learning style and merits further consideration and evaluation.