Virtual Simulation: Comparing Critical Thinking and Satisfaction in RN-BSN Students

Abstract Background Virtual simulation has been used in nursing and other health care professions to provide student opportunities to experience real-life clinical scenarios with interactive computerized virtual patients. Method This pilot study used a randomized, controlled, pre-test, post-test design to compare the outcomes of critical thinking, confidence, and satisfaction with Digital Clinical Experiences™ (intervention) compared to written case studies (control). Results Twenty-seven RN-BSN nursing students enrolled in a Pathophysiology-Pharmacology online accelerated course participated. Although critical thinking scores increased for the intervention group and decreased for the control group, there were no statistically significant differences pre to post test. Participants using the Digital Clinical Experiences™ had higher confidence and satisfaction compared with those using case studies. Conclusion Further evaluation is warranted to determine the efficacy of virtual simulation compared to other online learning methods.