The Impact of High-Fidelity Simulation in Enhancing Critical Thinking in Senior Maternity Nursing Students

Aim: This study examined the effects of the combination of high-fidelity simulation and hospital-based clinical instruction on maternity students’ clinical judgment/critical thinking skills. Background: Several researchers have explored the use of high-fidelity simulation to improve students’ critical thinking skills. However, no studies have examined the effects on senior maternity nursing students of hospital clinicalexperience and high-fidelity simulation. Method: A retrospective, comparative study design was used to examine data fromthe ATI content mastery series test(maternal newborn), focusing on clinical judgment/critical thinking scores. Results: The data indicated that senior nursing students who received instruction through high-fidelity simulation in addition to hospital-based instruction demonstrated greater critical thinking skills, as indicated than students who received taught hospital-based clinical instruction alone measured by higher clinical judgment/critical thinking in nursing scores on the ATI content mastery series test (maternal newborn). Conclusion: As indicated in the literature and suggested by the findings in this study suggest that high-fidelitysimulation may be an effective vehicle for enhancing critical thinking skills in the maternity high-risk unit.