Preparing future nurses through simulation: Family presence during resuscitation

Background Family presence during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (FPDR) is influenced by clinical experiences and education, with minimal student research. This study explored the experiences of nursing students participating in a simulation with a standardized patient present during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Methods In this descriptive qualitative study, a semi-structured protocol guided interviews followed by inductive content analysis; a survey collected demographics with descriptive statistical analysis. Results Nine participants revealed four main themes: realistic experience, holistic resuscitation considerations, complexity of the nurse's role, generating thought into future practice, and perspective shift. Conclusions Students found the simulation beneficial with an impact on their FPDR thoughts and opinions.