Date of Paper/Work

5-2021

Type of Paper/Work

Doctor of Nursing Practice Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Department

Nursing

First Advisor

Suzanne Lehman

Department/School

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Abstract

Background: Undergraduate nursing education programs rely on clinical practicum to bridge the gap between nursing theory and real-world clinical practice. The prevalence of practicum-based anxiety in Clinical Learning Environments (CLE) reduces a student’s ability to learn clinical content and develop the skills required for clinical competence.

Purpose: This project aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of nursing simulation on practicum-based anxiety, in first-year, undergraduate nursing students beginning acute-care clinical practicum courses.

Method: First-year nursing students (n=23) completed State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) forms in a pre-test and post-test design.

Results: Pre-intervention scores identified,80.3% of first-year nursing students (n=23) reported high levels of state-anxiety. Post-intervention scores identified a reduction in state-anxiety levels in nursing students (n=23) by 14.3%.

Conclusion: Participation in simulation during an acute-care practicum course may effectively reduce state-anxiety levels in first-year nursing students beginning acute-care clinical rotations. Additional research is suggested to develop effective interventions to reduce practicum-based anxiety in undergraduate nursing students.

Available for download on Tuesday, September 12, 2023

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