Faculty's Perception on Student Performance using vSim for Nursing® as a Teaching Strategy

During the COVID-19 pandemic, clinical nurse educators within pre-licensure baccalaureate educational programs had to quickly adapt to new ways of teaching. Hospital-based clinicals no longer permitted students to attend and some schools of nursing (SON) transitioned to virtual simulation learning environments. These alternative learning strategies were imperative for students continued progression. The first purpose of this pilot study explored nursing faculty's perceived effectiveness of using vSim for Nursing® to replace clinical practice. A second purpose examined the effectiveness of faculty preparation. Effectiveness was evaluated using an adapted version of the Simulation Effectiveness Tool – Modified (SET-M). Mean scores indicated that faculty strongly agreed on its effectiveness for students’ learning, with all items ranging 57.9%-97.4%. Majority of faculty strongly agreed that their preparation was highly effective, ranging 86.8%-97.4%. Faculty perceived vSim for Nursing® to be an effective tool for replacement of clinical practice and felt prepared to meet the students’ learning outcomes. Evidence to support the effectiveness of vSim is needed so faculty can make data driven decisions to support student success in clinical practice. Debriefing continues to be a prominent component to any form of simulation. Supporting and preparing faculty to meet students’ competencies further ensures successful transition as a professional.