Effectiveness of Simulation-Based Training on Nursing Students’ Clinical Competency in Managing Acute Heart Failure: A Quasi-Experimental Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66021/pakmcr1821Keywords:
Simulation-Based Training, Clinical Competency, Acute Heart Failure, Nursing Students, Critical Care Nursing, Nursing Education.Abstract
Background: Acute heart failure is a critical condition that requires nurses to recognize patient deterioration, prioritize interventions, and provide timely and appropriate care. Simulation-based training provides nursing students with a safe environment to develop and practice clinical skills before encountering similar situations in real clinical settings. Objective: To determine the effectiveness of simulation-based training on nursing students’ clinical competency in managing acute heart failure. Methodology: A quasi-experimental one-group pre-test and post-test design was conducted among 50 seventh-semester Generic BSN nursing students enrolled in Critical Care Nursing at a selected nursing institution in Karachi, Pakistan. Total enumeration sampling was used. Students participated in a structured acute heart failure simulation followed by a debriefing session. Clinical competency was assessed before and after the intervention using a structured competency checklist covering patient assessment, recognition of acute heart failure, ABC prioritization, oxygenation, fluid balance, recognition of deterioration, communication and teamwork, and evaluation of patient response. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27, and a paired-samples t-test was used to determine the difference between pre-test and post-test scores. Results: The mean clinical competency score increased from 51.84 ± 8.72 in the pre-test to 78.26 ± 7.15 in the post-test, with a mean improvement of 26.42 points. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Simulation-based training significantly improved nursing students’ clinical competency in managing acute heart failure. Incorporating structured simulation and debriefing into undergraduate nursing education may enhance students’ clinical preparedness, decision-making, and ability to respond effectively to acute cardiac emergencies.
