Experiences of clinical instructors in using high-fidelity manikins to teach student nurses at the selected higher education institutions in KwaZulu-Natal

High-fidelity mannequins (HFMs) are used by various nursing education institutions globally to empower students to achieve clinical teachfing objectives. Clinical instructors, as individuals who support student nurses in the clinical learning environment, are expected to utilize high-fidelity mannequins to teach them clinical skills. Furthermore, clinical instructors require resources and support to render effective and efficient services in the clinical simulation laboratory. To explore and describe the experiences of clinical instructors in using high-fidelity manikins to teach student nurses at the selected higher education institutions in KwaZulu-Natal A qualitative exploratory descriptive design was used. Non-probability purposive sampling was used to select the eligible participants. Data saturation was reached at participant 10. Six (6) steps of thematic analysis by Braun & Clarke were used to analyse data. Credibility, transferability, dependability, confirmability, and authenticity were adhered to ensure data quality. Two (2) themes and 5 sub-themes were identified by this study. The first theme is hindrances to the use of high-fidelity mannequins; sub-themes are as follows: limited technological skills among clinical instructors, shortage and lack of technological skills among clinical laboratory support staff, and lack of orientation of new staff on the use of high-fidelity manikins. The second theme is the lack of support of the clinical instructors, and the sub-themes are as follows: lack of in-service training and inability to develop and use scenarios. Clinical instructors face various challenges regarding the use of high-fidelity mannequins. The institutions of higher learning should provide clinical instructors with continuous professional development to improve their confidence and competence in high-fidelity manikins. Furthermore, it is fundamental that guidelines for incorporating simulation into curricula be developed. Additionally, investing in technical support and developing clear guidelines for integrating simulation into curricula can help ensure more effective and consistent use of high-fidelity mannequins.