(16) Exploring three modalities of clinical education for prelicensure nursing students and the impact on the transition to practice.

Abstract :

Background: Evidence-based literature suggests the benefits of simulation to prepare future nurses for clinical practice. Most nursing educational settings use simulation to augment traditional clinical experiences. The Clinical Learning Environment Comparison Survey (CLECS 2.0) and focus groups offer insight into the impact of nursing education modalities using traditional clinical and simulation-based learning.

Purpose: This retrospective study explored how traditional clinical experiences, and the use of in-person and screen-based simulation influence the transition to practice for nursing students six months or more after graduation.  Study participants are alumni graduating from August 2020 to December 2023. IRB approval was obtained. 

Methods: The CLECS 2.0, a quantitative research approach, explored how traditional clinical experiences and simulated learning opportunities prepared graduates for clinical practice using a four-point Likert scale.  

Results: Nursing graduates (N=261) from a western university were surveyed at least six months post-graduation. Ninety participants completed the CLECS 2.0 survey (34.5% return rate). Friedman tests with Wilcoxon signed-rank post-hoc analyses revealed significant differences in median scores for all 29 survey items. Most scores were highest in traditional clinical experiences, followed by face-to-face simulation-based learning. Lower scores were noted with screen-based simulation-based learning. Noteworthy findings suggest that as the number of simulation-based learning experiences increased, the perceived advantage of the traditional learning environment waned in some areas.

Conclusions: Novice nurses identified traditional clinical and face-to-face simulation-based learning experiences as influential to practice readiness, with screen-based simulations helping develop critical thinking.

Please include a short summary of your presentation that highlights why an attendee would want to participate in your session.: This study explores how traditional clinical experiences and two simulation modalities—both in-person and screen-based influence novice nurses’ transition to practice. Key findings from the CLECS 2.0 survey will be shared, revealing while traditional methods remain impactful, increased simulation experiences may influence perceptions of preparedness.