Using Clinical Instructor Perceptions to Improve a Pilot Simulation Course.

ABSTRACT

Little is known about clinical instructors' perceptions of student decision-making in relation to the block sequencing of simulation and traditional clinical experiences. Focus groups were conducted with 12 clinical instructors. Three common threads emerged from the data right away, anxious but more confident, and scary and unsafe. Instructors noted that the more patient care experiences encountered, the more students developed efficient clinical decision-making skills. Major safety concerns regarding medication administration were identified, resulting in additional safety parameters instituted in the simulated environment.