Multiple-Patient Simulation to Transition Students to Clinical Practice

Multiple-patient assignments are necessary for senior nursing students to learn to effectively prioritize and delegate care. Because of limitations in the clinical setting, students may not receive multiple-patient assignments or feel comfortable delegating to staff, thus prohibiting them from developing these necessary skills. High-fidelity simulation can be an effective teaching and learning tool to develop these skills, especially when caring for multiple patients. However, little has been published on this topic. This article will describe how a multiple-patient scenario provided senior students with a realistic, three-patient assignment. The article will focus on the collaborative efforts needed to plan, implement, and evaluate a multiple-patient simulation scenario. Lessons learned and revisions for future scenarios are also included.