Music for Anxiety Reduction and Performance Enhancement in Nursing Simulation

• Music listening reduced mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and state anxiety.
• Lowering anxiety enabled successful performances for students in simulation testing.
• Results support music as a viable intervention for improving outcomes for students.

BackgroundPerformance anxiety related to nursing simulation can potentially impede student learning.MethodThis study employed a randomized control group pretest–posttest design to examine the effect of music listening on anxiety, self-efficacy, and performance among baccalaureate nursing students undergoing simulation testing (N = 38; Mage = 23.05, standard deviation = 3.41).ResultsHeart rate, mean arterial pressure, and state-trait anxiety scores were significantly lower in the experimental group, F(3, 35) = 6.55, p = .02, η2 = 0.27, whereas instructor performance ratings were significantly higher than the control condition (p = .009). No differences were seen on self-efficacy scores (p = .37).ConclusionsThe intervention has the potential to reduce anxiety, improve performance, and facilitate learning in simulation testing experiences.