Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to examine if simulation training affects new graduate critical care nurses' knowledge, self-efficacy, and performance ability in emergency situations. METHODS: Forty new graduate critical care nurses were randomly assigned to either an experimental or a control group. The experimental group had didactic with simulation. The control group received only didactic without simulation about emergency situations. The data were collected before and after the training interventions. An independent t-test used for difference among variables. RESULTS: There were no significant demographic differences between the two groups or any differences on data collected knowledge, self-efficacy and performance ability. Following the training, there were significant performance ability scores (p<.001) among the nurses receiving didactic with simulation. There were no significant difference between the two groups relative to knowledge scores (p=.117), or the self-efficacy scores (p=.100). CONCLUSION: This study showed that simulation training for new graduate critical care nurses is useful to improve performance ability on emergency situations. Hence, providing simulation training to critical care nurses during an orientation period would improve quality of critical care nursing and help the new graduates nurse's adaptation.

• Keywords: Intensive care units; Simulation; Knowledge; Performance ability; Self-efficacy