Using a Combination of Teaching and Learning Strategies and Standardized Patient for a Successful Autism Simulation

This article describes the development and evaluation of a first run realistic autism scenario for senior nursing students. Providing a case study, lecture, examination questions, and a synopsis of the simulation benefited student success. The debriefing yielded rich information. Students often expressed difficulty in communicating with and prioritizing care for the teenage patient but were empathetic with the patient's mother. Students felt that the simulation was the best they had experienced in the nursing program and that it helped them with communication, critical thinking, prioritization, and assessment strategies, during a realistic experience.