Mental Health Clinical Simulation: Therapeutic Communication

• Nursing students report anxiety before their mental health clinical rotation.
• Simulated psychiatric patient scenarios were conducted during clinical orientation.
• Students report enhanced confidence with communication skills post simulation.

BackgroundThe article describes a mental health simulation that encourages student nurses to use therapeutic communication while assisting patients with mental illness in a clinical setting.MethodA quasi-experimental, one group, pre–post test design using simulation during a mental health clinical orientation; data were analyzed using dependent t tests.ResultsThere was significant improvement (p = .000) in student's self-reported confidence with their communication skills and knowledge following a mental health simulation experience using standardized patients.ConclusionsAlthough more research is needed, a therapeutic communication mental health simulation given before students participating in their clinical experience should be integrated into undergraduate nursing education.