Integrated virtual simulation and face-to-face simulation for clinical judgment training among undergraduate nursing students: a mixed-methods study

Background Virtual simulation and face-to-face simulation are effective for clinical judgment training. Rare studies have tried to improve clinical judgment ability by applying virtual simulation and face-to-face simulation together. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of an integrated non-immersive virtual simulation and high-fidelity face-to-face simulation program on enhancing nursing students’ clinical judgment ability and understanding of nursing students’ experiences of the combined simulation. Methods A sequential exploratory mixed-methods study was conducted in a nursing simulation center of a university in Central China. Third-year nursing students ( n = 122) taking clinical training in ICUs were subsequentially assigned to the integrated non-immersive virtual simulation and high-fidelity face-to-face simulation program arm ( n = 61) or the face-to-face simulation-only arm ( n = 61) according to the order in which they entered in ICU training. Clinical judgment ability was measured by the Lasater Clinical Judgment Rubric (LCJR). Focus group interviews were conducted to gather qualitative data. Results Students in both arms demonstrated significant improvement in clinical judgment ability scores after simulation, and students in the integrated arm reported more improvement than students in the face-to-face simulation-only arm. The qualitative quotes provided a context for the quantitative improvement measured by the LJCR in the integrated arm. Most of the quantitative findings were confirmed by qualitative findings, including the domains and items in the LJCR. The findings verified and favored the effect of the combination of non-immersive virtual simulation and high-fidelity face-to-face simulation integrated program on enhancing nursing students’ clinical judgment ability. Conclusions The integrated virtual simulation and face-to-face simulation program was feasible and enhanced nursing students’ self-reported clinical judgment ability. This integrated non-immersive virtual simulation and high-fidelity face-to-face simulation program may benefit nursing students and newly graduated nurses in the ICU more than face-to-face simulation only.