Meaningful learning through simulation: The basis for developing multi-skills for clinical practice

Abstract

Introduction: Simulation-based learning provides a safe environment to learn and demonstrate specific competencies in nursing training, which can be reflected in an improvement in direct clinical patient care. It is proposed to strengthen cooperation between faculties and hospitals to promote patient safety, reinforce theoretical and practical teaching with strategies such as simulation, which encourages safe behaviors and reduces adverse events.

Objective: To describe nursing students’ learning experiences with clinical simulation.

Method: A qualitative study conducted under the interpretive phenomenology method. Between February 2023 and December 2024, semi-structured interviews were conducted with fifteen participants from a nursing program at a private university institution in the city of Medellín, Colombia. Data analysis was performed following the interpretive phenomenological analysis proposal.

Results: The study’s results are represented by a central theme: “Learning in simulation, experiencing to develop multi-skills”; with two sub-themes: “Simulation as a tool for meaningful learning” and “The development of multi-skills as a prelude to clinical practice”.

Conclusions: Learning experiences through clinical simulation are not only immersive but also facilitate the transition from theory to practice, promoting meaningful learning that prepares students for the challenges of real-world healthcare. Simulation provides students with a unique opportunity to cultivate these skills in a safe environment while fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional development.