How Nursing Students Describe Their Learning in a Simulated Care Situation with Advanced Care Manikin

Background: Learning in simulated nursing situations with advanced manikin is considered to prepare nursing students for clinical care situations. Collaboration with classmates facilitates the learning process which is described in the literature. The study aimed to investigate whether there are factors that nursing students describe as important for learning in a simulated care situation. Method: A mixed method was used in this study. Data were collected from (n=53) nursing students. At first, a quantitative data collection consisting of questionnaires was conducted one week before the simulation exercise. Thereafter, group interviews were conducted (n=7), which became a basis for the qualitative data collection. Results: The students described that they were well prepared for the skills training. Getting support in their learning from classmates and teachers was described as significant. Conclusion: Reflection of classmates’ processing of the situation work improves the student’s individual learning during the skills education with subsequent reflection with a teacher. In order for the learning to be optimal, collaboration with other fellow students in the base group is necessary.