The Skills Olympics: Using Competition to Illustrate Patient Care Challenges and Promote the Transfer of Nursing Knowledge.

The fundamental skills lab provides students with a safe place to learn new skills and develop knowledge and attitudes necessary for professional nursing. However, learning skills without situational challenges like those encountered in the clinical setting does not adequately prepare students for future challenges. The Skills Olympics, a competitive team event, can be used to foster teamwork, communication, and problem-solving abilities, thereby introducing students to the realities of patient care challenges and promoting transfer of learning.