Preparing Students for Difficult Conversations with Patients and Families

Background: Nursing and other health care professionals are often required to conduct difficult conversations with patients and their families. Simulation in nursing education combined with the utilization of standardized patients (SPs) provides realistic situations for students to practice those important communication skills. Method: A simulation-based experience (SBE) for pediatric content was developed for nursing students to become more proficient in the role of teaching parents about immunizations and to increase student confidence when engaging families who express vaccine hesitancy (the difficult conversation). Results: Ninety-five percent of students strongly agreed their confidence in communication was enhanced. Conclusion: The portrayal of parents by SPs was an effective strategy to increase student confidence in conducting difficult conversations with patients before they are faced with a real-life situation. (C) 2020 International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.