The Modification of Vital Signs According to Nursing Students’ Experiences Undergoing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training via High-Fidelity Simulation: Quasi-Experimental Study

BACKGROUND: High-fidelity simulation represents a primary tool in nursing education, especially when hands-on practical training is involved. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the influence of high-fidelity clinical simulation, applied during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training, on blood pressure, heart rate, stress, and anxiety levels in 2 groups of nursing students. One group had experience in health contexts, whereas the other group had none. METHODS: We performed a quasi-experimental study. Data were collected between May and June 2015 and included measurements of all the resting values, before and after participation in CPR clinical simulations regarding the 2 groups of university students (ie, with and without experience). RESULTS: An increase in vital signs was observed in students after participating in a clinical simulation scenario, especially the heart rate. In all students, increased stress and anxiety levels were observed before the first simulation case scenario. Also, in all study groups, a decrease in vital signs, stress levels, and anxiety was observed throughout the study. CONCLUSIONS: Participation in high-fidelity simulation experiences has both physiological and psychological effects on students.