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.