The Impact of Simulation-based Interprofessional Education on Systems Thinking, Innovative Behaviors, and Perceptions in Nursing Educators

Despite the benefits of interprofessional education (IPE), health care educators rarely implement it because of practical challenges and limited awareness. This study evaluated whether a simulation-based IPE program, informed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials, could strengthen nursing educators' systems thinking, innovative behaviors, and perceptions of IPE. Nursing educators from 3 regions in South Korea completed presurveys assessing demographics, prior IPE experience, and baseline outcomes. They then participated in a 1-day program comprising a 1-hour lecture on IPE and simulation-based team-building activities, followed by postsurveys. Sixty-nine nursing educators participated; 11.6% reported prior IPE experience, and 89.8% reported limited IPE knowledge. Reported barriers included scheduling constraints, low enthusiasm, exclusive attitudes, and limited understanding of other disciplines. After the program, participants demonstrated significant improvements across the assessed outcomes. These findings suggest that even a brief, simulation-based IPE program aligned with AACN expectations for interprofessional partnerships can strengthen nursing educators' readiness to design and facilitate collaborative learning.