Jacqulin Myles
Keiser University, USA
Title: Using low-fidelity, role-play simulation in nursing education to improve undergraduate nursing students’ attitudes toward older adults: A pilot study
Biography
Biography: Jacqulin Myles
Abstract
Statement of the Problem: The preparation of nurses to care for the aging population is one of the major challenges for nursing education leaders. Improving student nurses’ knowledge and attitudes towards older adults is one way to provide adequate care.
The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental, one-group pretest-post-test pilot project, was to analyze the effects of using low-fidelity, role-play simulation in nursing education during a Fundamentals of Nursing laboratory at a private college in South Florida.
Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: The Kolb Experiential Learning Theory was the conceptual framework for the project. A convenience sample of 25 first-year, associate degree in nursing students (ADN) registered in the Fundamentals of Nursing course at a private college in South Florida were recruited for the project. A total of 23 nursing students participated in the study. Kogan’s Attitudes towards Old People Scale (KAOP) used as pretest and posttests, and a demographic questionnaire was administered. The pretest was conducted before the role-play simulation activity, and the posttest was completed one week post the role-play simulation activity. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic information. Scores from the pretests and posttests were evaluated using the matched-pairs t-test and the Wilcoxon Signed Ranked test to obtain means and standard deviation.
Conclusion & Significance Students’ attitudes toward older individuals significantly improved (P<.002) after the role-play simulation experience.
Recommendations are made to support the credence that instructive interventions are critical to creating awareness of age-related issues and evidence-based practice in caring for older adults.