High-fidelity patient simulation in critical care area: A methodological overview

High-Fidelity Patient Simulation (HFPS) allows the nursing students’ immersion in a learning environment marked by complexity, dynamism, reality, and safety, connecting theory to practice. The increased use of the HFPS was also sustained by the beneficial impact that HFPS seems to produce on nursing students’ learning outcomes. However, available research is still conflicting, and several methodological issues do not allow achieving best-quality evidence. To analyse the impact of the HFPS on nursing students’ learning outcomes in critical care area, a methodological overview of the studies included in a systematic review was conducted. Heterogeneity about the geographic area, methods, simulation techniques, and control approaches was pointed out. However, studies based on cardiocirculatory scenarios showed the highest standardization of methods and assessment tools. The development and application of shared guidelines derived from adequately-sampled randomized controlled trials are expected to demonstrate the high-fidelity simulation to be a valuable adjunct to the traditional training program.