Screen‐Based Simulation in Nursing School: Help Use and Self‐Regulated Learning

ABSTRACT Screen‐based simulation (SBS) can complement traditional nursing courses. We compared the effect of innovative virtual environments not widespread in French nursing schools on self‐efficacy, quiz performance, and self‐regulated learning behaviors. This quasi‐experimental study involved 1183 student nurses. Participants were divided into an experimental group (SBS training; n = 894) and a control group (textual content; n = 289). SBS group performed significantly better than controls ( p < 0.001) and improved over time ( p < 0.001). Controls performed worse over time ( p < 0.001). In the control group, a single medium may have overloaded sensory channels, while SBS spread cognitive load across auditory and visual channels. SBS was more effective than traditional teaching and enhanced self‐efficacy. This initial study is encouraging, suggesting further investigation into SBS in training and the analysis of learning behaviors through digital data.