Measuring Nursing Student Development Through Computer-Based Simulation Activities

Background: New nurse attrition jeopardizes patient safety, devastates career plans, and negatively impacts costs to hospitals and patients. Employers and educators recognize the widening transition-to-practice gap in meeting expectations for practice-ready, resilient nurses. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to test the use of computer-based simulation activities (CBSAs) to measure processes in Aller's Development of Decision-Making and Self-Efficacy Model (ADD-SEM). Methods: BSN students (N = 50) in a multisite, cross-sectional study used CBSAs to provide data on decision making (Virtual Patient Lasater's Clinical Judgment Rubric), psychological capital (Nursing Anxiety and Self-Confidence in Decision-Making Scale©), and reflection. Results: Repeated-measures analysis of variance and reflexive thematic analysis revealed that decision-making (DM) scores were highest in noticing and lowest in interpreting with significant differences in cohorts (DM) (juniors: P < .001; seniors: P = .013) and self-confidence/anxiety (P < .001). Conclusion: The CBSAs are an effective means of measuring student development of DM and psychological capital needed to retain resilient nurses.