Signal detection for pediatric patient deterioration with nursing students: An explanatory sequential design mixed-methods study

Students demonstrated low sensitivity in detecting early signs of patient deterioration. These findings highlight the need to enhance student knowledge and preparedness to detect signals of pediatric deterioration early and reduce failure to rescue. This study demonstrates the innovative use of signal detection to assess nursing students' ability to recognize patient deterioration cues. By quantifying the sensitivity index and response bias, educators can identify knowledge gaps and tailor remediation to individual needs. Signal detection testing provides a unique framework to evaluate decision-making under uncertainty, advancing nursing education to better prepare students for clinical practice.