Enhancing Empathy in Undergraduate Nursing Students: An Experiential Ostomate Simulation.

Aim: The aim of this study was to implement and evaluate an experiential learning simulation created to enhance nursing students' empathy during patient care encounters.

Background: The investigators proposed that an ostomy simulation experience would be an efficient method for providing this educational content.

Method: Content analysis was conducted on essays using Krippendorff's technique to quantify the simulation.

Results: Each unit of measure, or paper, contained between 1 to 14 empathic comments. Of the total sample, 22.8 percent had three or five empathic comments; 10 percent had four, and 9 percent had six or more comments per paper. Eighty-five percent of participants felt this simulation experience was beneficial for enhancing empathy in clinical practice.

Conclusion: The assignment was an effective, objective method that utilized simulation to teach empathy to baccalaureate nursing students.