The relationships of nursing students’ satisfaction and self-confidence after a simulation-based course with their self-confidence while practicing on real patients in Vietnam

PURPOSE: Simulation teaching refers to the replication of real-life scenarios, enabling students to practice nursing skills and learn actively in a safe environment. It also helps students control their anxiety and fears when caring for real patients. This study investigated the relationships of Vietnamese nursing students’ self-confidence in clinical practice with their satisfaction and self-confidence in simulation-based practice. METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive study included 182 nursing students. The data collection included 2 separate stages with 2 main questionnaires. The Student Satisfaction and Self‐Confidence in Learning Scale was used to measure students’ satisfaction and self‐confidence after learning in the simulation room. The Confidence Scale was used to measure students’ self-confidence when first performing techniques on actual patients. Data were analyzed by descriptive and Pearson correlation statistics. RESULTS: Students’ satisfaction and self-confidence during the simulation course were quite high (mean±standard deviation [SD], 4.06±0.48 and 4.11±0.46 out of 5.0, respectively). In contrast, their confidence when first practicing on a patient was moderate (mean±SD, 3.19±0.62 out of 5.0). Students’ satisfaction showed moderate and weak positive correlations with self-confidence in pre-clinical practice and in clinical practice (r=0.33, P<0.001 and r=0.26, P<0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Simulation has become an effective teaching strategy that can help nursing students be well-prepared for clinical placements in Vietnam. An effective nursing education strategy is needed to enhance the satisfaction and self-confidence of nursing students in simulation and then in clinical practice to help achieve professional engagement and development.