Student's Perception of vSim for Nursing® using the Simulation Effectiveness Tool-Modified.

Background: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our nursing program utilized virtual simulation learning experiences to replace clinical hours. This pilot project used both quantitative and qualitative research methods to explore undergraduate pre-licensure (n = 99) and accelerated second-degree students (n = 19) student's perceived effectiveness of using vSim for Nursing® as a clinical replacement with a second aim that explored their preparedness for the virtual simulation experience.

Method: Efficacy was evaluated using the Simulation Effectiveness Tool-Modified (SET-M).

Results: Mean scores indicated that students strongly agreed on the efficacy of vSim for learning, with all items ranging from 50% to 79.7%. Majority of students strongly agreed that their preparation was highly effective, ranging 67.8% to 77.1%. Qualitative findings from the open-ended feedback supports findings to the effectiveness of virtual simulation, with one of the major themes that emerged was the presence of the clinical nurse educator.

Conclusion: Students perceived vSim for Nursing® to be an effective tool for clinical practice replacement and felt prepared to meet the learning outcomes. Debriefing remains an essential component to any mode of simulation.