The Effect of Generative Artificial Intelligence Simulation on First-Year Baccalaureate Nursing Students’ Therapeutic Communication Skill

Therapeutic communication is an essential nursing skill to foster nurse-patient relationships. Prelicensure nursing students experience anxiety when communicating with patients, which can impact performance. Generative artificial intelligence is a new method of simulation that offers an opportunity for nursing students to practice therapeutic communication in a safe environment. The purposes of this study were to explore: (1) the effect of generative artificial intelligence simulation on first-year baccalaureate nursing students' therapeutic communication skill; and (2) first-year baccalaureate nursing students' perceptions of using generative artificial intelligence simulation to practice therapeutic communication. Participants in the experimental group engaged in 2 virtual generative artificial intelligence simulation scenarios focused on therapeutic communication through the SimConverse platform. Findings from this study revealed nonstatistically significant higher therapeutic communication skill among students who engaged in generative AI simulation versus those who did not. Qualitative data revealed 3 themes: (1) realism, (2) practice without pressure, and (3) feedback. Given the limited, conflicting empirical findings available related to generative AI simulation and therapeutic communication among prelicensure nursing students, additional research is needed in this area. Moreover, nursing faculty need instruction on artificial intelligence to adequately train generative artificial intelligence models for appropriate use in nursing education.