Competency in the clinical setting involves the assimilation of theory and the
development of skills. The integration of a human simulation standardized patient
experience is one method to enable students to demonstrate competency of complex skills
in a controlled or testing environment. The human simulation standardized patient
experience is part of a new generation of ‘authentic assessment exercises’ that challenge
students with realistic simulations of clinical experiences likely encountered in practice.
Standardized patients can be utilized throughout an undergraduate nursing program to
provide realistic, structured learning opportunities in a safe and supported environment
while also providing opportunities for review and self-critique. Examples include: 1)
therapeutic communication experience; 2) dealing with a difficult, anxious or agitated
patient experience; 3) complex patient teaching experience; 4) summative evaluation of a
patient encounter including history taking, focused physical exam and patient teaching.
This college of nursing utilizes a human simulation standardized patient experience as
part of the summative evaluation of the undergraduate nursing program. The students are
presently given the opportunity to have the experience twice during their senior year. In
their first experience, the nursing students have two fifteen minute experiences. The
second standardized patient experience incorporates one forty minute comprehensive
session. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the human simulation
standardized patient experience on the student outcomes of confidence, nursing activity,
and self esteem
