Nursing Students’ Perception of a Gerontological Nursing Training Practicum with Faculty Members as Simulated Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

  During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, an on-campus gerontological nursing training practicum with faculty members simulating patients was conducted as an alternative to an on-site clinical training practicum. This study aimed to evaluate this practicum and identify the nursing students’ perceptions regarding this method of training practicum. A group interview was conducted with 14 female nursing students who had participated in the abovementioned practicum between June and July 2021. Nursing students’ perceptions about the practicum were extracted from the narrative and categorized into three themes after qualitative inductive analysis. Analysis revealed the following twelve categories: five categories for the theme of Role-playing practice methods including “Realistic role-play” and “Role-play to repeat and improve practice”; three categories for the theme of Practical methods about conferences and debriefing including “Sharing of diverse practices” and “Beneficial case conferences”; and four categories for the theme of Learning environment including “Flexible practice plan.” The nursing students had a positive view of the on-campus nursing training practicum because the faculty members were familiar with the characteristics of the elderly. Practical methods about conferences and debriefing and the learning environment were generally viewed positively, and the advantages of the on-campus nursing training practicum became clear. However, the findings suggested that some aspects need improvement, such as how to create opportunities to interact with various medical/welfare professionals and families and how to cooperate with clinical instructors.