Using a Standardized Patient to Teach Fall Safety

Background: Patient falls in acute care settings have become a major public concern. It is important that nurse educators use evidence-based teaching strategies to teach nursing students the necessary measures required to keep patients safe. Methods: Using a multisite, mixed methods, experimental study, we tested the effect of using a standardized patient in simulation on cognitive gains, student attitudes toward patient safety and important simulation design features. Results: Students indicated debriefing followed by fidelity were the most important features of this simulation. Although there was no significant cognitive learning in the experimental group, there was a significant improvement in attitudes toward safety. Conclusion: This study adds to the science of nursing education providing evidence for best teaching practices. Using standardized patients in simulation improves student attitudes toward patient safety. (C) 2014 International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.