The effect of simulation on the process of skill development of nursing students to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia

This research was conducted in a single group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design to determine the impact of scenario-based simulation training on the development of skills in nursing students for the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). The population of the research consisted of the students (n=97) who took the Intensive Care Nursing course in the spring term of the 2021-2022 academic year at the Nursing Department of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Amasya University, and the sample consisted of 39 students. The study was conducted in two stages: preparation and implementation. Three separate scenarios and a skill performance evaluation form for preventing VAP were developed in the preparation stage, and the simulation laboratory environment was prepared. In addition, theoretical and practical training for preventing VAP was completed, and the functionality of the scenarios was tested. In the implementation phase, all teams participated in the pretest, simulation, and posttest scenario applications, which included the same high-fidelity simulation scenarios, with a week in between. The students' performances in the pretest and posttest were evaluated simultaneously by two independent observers. Data was collected through the Descriptive Information Form and the Performance Evaluation Form regarding the Prevention of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia. The students' performance scores in the simulation scenarios were 18.38±5.06 in the pretest; and 38.38±7.81 in the posttest. A statistically significant, very high level of agreement was found between the observers (ICC=0.982; p<0.001). A statistically significant difference was found between the students' pretest and posttest performance scores regarding the prevention of VAP (p=0.002). In the posttest, an increase was observed in the rates of accomplishment of the skill steps included in the performance evaluation form by the groups. In conclusion, scenario-based simulation training was effective in nursing students' skill development processes for VAP prevention. Therefore, using these scenarios in undergraduate and postgraduate orientation training of nursing students is recommended to improve their knowledge and skills for the prevention of VAP.