Abstract
The purpose of this study was to identify the experiences of senior nursing students who acted as simulated patients (SP) in the practical exercise class of the third-year nursing course and to examine the educational effect of the experience connected with the senior students' reflection. A semi-structured group interview was conducted with 18 senior students who acted as SP regarding their experiences. The results found 4 main categories; [Noticed the involvement that values patients], [Realized patients' feelings], [Gave meaning to providing nursing care as a professional nurse], and [Observing junior students helping patients from the view of a senior student]. The SP experience for senior students gave them the opportunity to gain a multidirectional view; as a patient, as nursing personnel, and as a senior student, to look back at their own nursing acts. In particular, it can be considered that they deepened their self-awareness as a nursing professional and were reflective about nursing itself from actually experiencing a patient's feelings and objectively observing nurses' attitudes and behaviors. Therefore, it was indicated that senior students' SP experience has an educational effect that encourages reflection toward nursing.
