Simulation in nursing practice: the impact on patient care

Simulation has a well-known history in the military, nuclear power, and aviation. It is also a recommended teaching and learning strategy supported by several landmark studies. Although in the past 20 years simulation has become more integrated into the education of nurses and physicians, it has not been as well integrated into the development of skills for practicing nurses. This article will provide an overview of simulation techniques and uses and review of selected simulation research. Despite recommendations for using simulation and growing integration of simulation into education, we still lack empirical evidence of its impact on patient outcomes. Our discussion provides a review of the current uses of simulation in the nursing practice environment with several exemplars and offers recommendations to develop a simulation program.