Nursing students’ experiences as standardized patients in simulation: A focus group study

Purpose: This study explored nursing students’ experiences as standardized patients in a simulation club, focusing on their role as standardized patients and how this involvement affects their learning and professional development. Methods: We conducted a qualitative content analysis through focus group interviews with purposively selected nursing students (n=12) who participated in a simulation club. We collected data through semi-structured interviews that focused on participants’ experiences and personal growth, and analyzed the data using thematic analysis. Results: The analysis identified five key themes: initial challenges in role performance, empathy development through patient role enactment, enhanced understanding of nursing curricula, skill improvement, and personal growth. Participants reported that simulation club activities facilitated comprehensive clinical understanding and practical skill development. Conclusion: Participation in a simulation club, especially as standardized patients, provides nursing students with valuable opportunities to increase empathy, clinical skills, and professional growth. These findings suggest that structured extracurricular simulation activities can be effectively integrated into nursing education to complement traditional learning methods.