Effectiveness of Simulation-Based Education on Educational Practices of Communication Skills, Satisfaction, and Self-Confidence Among Undergraduate Nursing Students

Introduction: Simulation-based education is one of the important teaching and learning strategies that imitate real situations in a clinical environment of safety. Simulation-based education offers experiential, interactive, and collaborative learning opportunities, and hence can help improve students' communication skills and increase their satisfaction and self-confidence. Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of simulation-based learning on the educational practice of communication skills, satisfaction, and self-confidence among undergraduate nursing students. Methods: An uncontrolled before-and-after study design among first-year nurse students (n = 112) used the Educational Practices Questionnaire and the Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning instruments for data collection. Results: In total, 91.1% of participants reported high satisfaction with simulation-based education experiences. Mean scores for communication skills, student satisfaction, and self-confidence were higher on posttest. There was a suggestive correlation between simulation-based education and the practices of communication skills, satisfaction, and self-confidence. Conclusion: Simulation-based education is associated with improved communication, student satisfaction, confidence, and critical thinking among nursing students. This study is important for institutions because it demonstrates that simulation-based education enhances a safer and more effective learning environment to meet the demands of future health-care professionals by increasing their satisfaction and self-confidence and improving communication skills through increased collaboration in several real-life scenarios.