Evaluating the Impact of Simulation-Based Training on Nursing Student Clinical Decision-Making Skills

Nursing students must be able to make clinical decisions that have a direct impact on patient outcomes and quality of care. Traditional clinical training may not provide sufficient hands-on experience in complex or high-risk situations. Simulation-based training (SBT) provides a controlled environment where students can practice clinical decision-making (CDM), but its direct impact on decision-making competence requires further research. To evaluate the ability of SBT to improve nurse trainees' competence in CDM. To compare progress in reaction time, critical thinking, problem-solving, confidence, and decision-making before and after simulation training. A quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test approach was used, with nursing students in the clinical training phase. Participants underwent high-fidelity simulation (HFS) scenarios to evaluate their decision-making ability. Data were gathered by structured observational checklists, self-reported confidence questionnaires, and performance evaluations. ANOVAs and paired t-tests were used to compare the results before and after the intervention. Results showed that SBT significantly improved nursing students' ability to evaluate critical thinking, their level of confidence, and their ability to respond time effectively under pressure. The findings demonstrated that following the intervention, decision-making abilities significantly improved; SBT is an effective educational technique to help nursing students improve their CDM skills.