Bringing your a-game: Educational gaming for student success

The purpose of this article is to describe the theoretical basis for the integration of gaming in nursing education and discuss aspects related to the implementation of “The Race for Nursing Student Success” game. This game was designed for 112 junior-level baccalaureate nursing students enrolled in a fundamentals nursing course. Students were divided into groups of 5–8 and rotated through ten specific learning activities that took place in various locations throughout the nursing building. Student and faculty feedback indicated positive responses to this instructional strategy and also promoted a learner-centered teaching environment. This learning activity supports the use of educational gaming as a means to develop learner-centered environments that provide experiential experiences, enhance learning, and stimulate interest, and motivation for students to learn. •Gaming promotes active learning environments that provide experiential experiences, enhance learning and stimulate interest and motivation.•“The Race for Nursing Student Success” is a game created to review fundamentals student content before a comprehensive final exam.•Feedback indicated positive responses to this instructional strategy, and also promoted a learner-centered teaching environment.