Gaumard® Scientific Says NCSBN National Study Provides Strong Support for Use of Patient Simulators in Nursing Education

MIAMI, Sept. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Gaumard Scientific Company today commented on the recent publication of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing's (NCSBN) National Simulation Study in the Journal of Nursing Regulation. Specifically, the company said this randomized, controlled study provides strong support for the use of high-fidelity patient simulators in nursing education and represents an important addition to the scientific literature.

In the study conducted by NCSBN, nursing students from 10 prelicensure programs across the United States were randomized into one of three study groups:

• Control: Students who had traditional clinical experiences (no more than 10% of clinical hours could be spent in simulation)
• 25% group: Students who had 25% of their traditional clinical hours replaced by simulation
• 50% group: Students who had 50% of their traditional clinical hours replaced by simulation.

The study began in the fall 2011 semester with the first clinical nursing course and continued throughout the core clinical courses through graduation in May 2013. Students were assessed on clinical competency and nursing knowledge, and they rated how well their learning needs were met in both the clinical and simulation environments.

A total of 666 students completed the study requirements at the time of graduation. At the end of the nursing program, there were no statistically significant differences in clinical competency as assessed by clinical preceptors and instructors (p = 0.688); there were no statistically significant differences in comprehensive nursing knowledge assessments (p = 0.478); and there were no statistically significant differences in NCLEX® pass rates (p = 0.737) among the three study groups.

The study cohort was also followed for the first six months of clinical practice. There were no differences in manager ratings of overall clinical competency and readiness for practice at any of the follow-up survey time points: six weeks (p = 0.706), three months (p = 0.511) and six months (p = 0.527) of practice as a new registered nurse. As stated in the paper, the results of this study provide substantial evidence that substituting high-quality simulation experiences for up to half of traditional clinical hours produces comparable end-of-program educational outcomes and new graduates who are ready for clinical practice

John Eggert, Gaumard's executive vice president, said: "We applaud NCSBN for its leadership of this important study. There has been a steady year-over-year increase of use of high-fidelity patient simulators by nursing schools. With a growing body of scientific evidence that shows the effectiveness of simulation as a replacement for traditional clinical experience, we expect even higher adoption rates. Schools will build core curriculum that incorporate student time in extensive simulation centers. One key to this is the use of the latest fully tetherless technology that provides educators with the ability to train students efficiently in realistic settings. Gaumard is committed to continuing our work in designing innovative products that meet this need based on input from nursing educators."

About Gaumard Scientific

Gaumard® Scientific Company has designed, manufactured and marketed simulators for health care education for more than 60 years. Users worldwide – the military, emergency medical services, major teaching hospitals and nursing schools – recognize Gaumard products for their innovation in simulation in the pre-hospital, obstetrics and gynecology, surgical and nursing care segments. In 2000, Gaumard launched the revolutionary family of NOELLE® maternal and neonatal care simulators that changed the way training is conducted. In 2004, Gaumard pioneered the use of fully tetherless technology with the introduction of the family of HAL® simulators. In 2014, the company introduced Victoria™, its most advanced, mobile maternal/fetal simulator as part of the NOELLE family.

Gaumard manufactures its products at its world headquarters in Miami. The company sells simulators through its own representatives in North America and through 200 distributors in 70 countries. For more information, visit www.gaumard.com. Follow Gaumard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/GaumardInFocus on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gaumardsimulators and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/gaumardmedsimulators.

Click here to see a schedule of upcoming events at which Gaumard will demonstrate its patient simulators. 

Company Contact:
Jonathan Cabral
Vice President Sales & Marketing, U.S. and Canada
(800) 882-6655
(305) 484-6679 Mobile
[email protected]

Media Contacts:        

Russo Partners

David Schull                                                               
(212) 845-4271
(858) 717-2310 Mobile                                                                           
[email protected]                   

Matt Middleman, M.D.
(212) 845-4272                                                          
[email protected]                                                         

SOURCE Gaumard Scientific Company

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED