High-fidelity simulation improves confidence in nursing students

Aim: Confidence is a key component for effective, safe clinical performance. High-fidelity simulation has been shown to be very useful in developing and increasing confidence. The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project was to investigate nursing students' confidence levels before and after implementing a high-fidelity obstetrics simulation. Methods: This quantitative, quasi-experimental QI project evaluated a simulation intervention on the impact on student confidence (n = 30) using the C-Scale pre- and post-intervention. Results: A statistically significant difference was found using the Wilcoxon Rank Sum test, (z = -4.46, p<.0001). Conclusions: The results of the QI project indicate that student confidence can be improved with the simulated learning environment. Improving confidence can transfer to improved patient care and safe clinical performance. (C) 2021 Organization for Associate Degree Nursing. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.