From the Simulation Lab to the Ward: Preparing 4th Year Nursing Students for the Role of Staff Nurse

This article describes the processes of developing and implementing a ward management exercise for 4th-year student nurses in preparation for the role of staff nurse. In 2005 the need to develop a teaching method that would enable students to consolidate the skills of caseload management, critical thinking, decision making, and prioritizing patient care was identified. Simulation was identified as a way of addressing these skills, and a project team including both academic and clinical colleagues developed the exercise. This article presents the experience of designing and implementing the exercise and discusses the challenges encountered.