The effect of advanced cardiovascular life support simulation education for nursing students

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The study’s goal is to research the effectiveness of the simulation training of ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support) in nursing students and determining the advanced cardiovascular life support knowledge and skills obtained by them. Methods/Statistical analysis: The subjects of the study were41 senior nursing students of a university in “C.” The simulation training program used in the study consisted of theoretical education and practical exercise. Findings: The study outcome showed that the level of knowledge after the education program of the advanced cardiovascular life support was 21.44 points on average, and that the level of performance in practice after the practical training was 27.98 points on average. The study outcome shows that the Advanced Life Support Simulation program is more effective in improving clinical practice ability than lecture-oriented conventional educational methods. Improvements/Applications: It is encouraged to expand the simulation education program for nursing students or health professionals’ caring for cardiac arrest patients. Therefore, designing the simulation for emergency care for cardiac arrest patients should be implemented, by developing scenario-based programs with various clinical situations in order to solve problems through critical thinking.