Clinical Teaching by Simulation Lessons Learned from a Complex Patient Care Scenario

A simulated learning experience designed to teach nursing students about cardiac arrhythmias and nursing intervention for patients experiencing a cardiac dysfunction was developed and implemented. Key to the simulation was the use of the SimMan™ human patient simulator, a technologically advanced simulator that can be programmed to have realistic and individualized responses to health care scenarios. Fifty-five students participated in the simulation experience. Although the overall experience was judged to be a success, it was not without its pitfalls. This article reports on the process of developing and implementing the laboratory experience, and lessons learned along the way.