TEACHING NURSING PSYCHOMOTOR SKILLS in a Fundamentals Laboratory:A Literature Review

AIM: The aim of this article is to determine the most effective methods of teaching psychomotor skills. BACKGROUND: Research has pointed to a gap between nursing practice and nursing education. Due to a number of conditions, nursing students are learning basic skills in laboratories, rather than clinical settings. METHOD: A literature review was conducted to evaluate studies published since 1995 that compared alternative and traditional methods of teaching skills to novice nursing students. RESULTS: Of the 13 studies found, most assessed computer-related methods. A few examined alternatives, such as the use of standardized patients, high-fidelity manikins, and a mental-imaging technique. CONCLUSION: Based on this limited evidence, it appears that teaching methods providing access to online interactive materials were significantly more effective than others.Three studies found that a combination of traditional lecture and demonstration methods plus computer use was more effective than either method alone.