The integration of virtual patients into nursing education

Background The use of virtual patients in nursing education has emerged as a valuable tool for developing clinical decision-making skills. However, little is known about the outcomes of incorporating virtual patients into nursing education curricula. The Nursing School of Porto has dedicated efforts to developing clinical scenarios and integrating virtual patient simulation into its nursing degree curriculum. This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of integrating virtual patient simulation into the nursing degree curriculum, specifically focusing on physical nursing examination, nursing diagnosis, nursing treatment, and overall nursing decision-making scores. Method An observational, retrospective, and descriptive study was conducted using a non-probabilistic convenience sample of 521 second-year nursing degree students. The results On average, students completed 31 virtual patient simulation training sessions. Students obtained an overall score of 82.5% (SD=8.52) for nursing decision-making, a physical examination score of 85.6%, a diagnostic activity score of 72.1%, and a implemented treatment score of 82.8%. Positive relationships were observed between the number of completed scenarios, the overall average evaluation score, and final marks. Conclusion The integration of virtual patients yielded a positive impact on nursing education. However, further evidence is necessary to determine the impact of virtual patient simulation on the clinical competencies of nursing degree students.