Academic nursing administrators' perceptions of replacing clinical hours with simulation.

Background: Nursing education has seen a shift towards simulation-based education (SBE) to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. Maryland's Clinical Simulation Resource Consortium (MCSRC) aimed to enhance SBE utilization; however, noted a decline in SBE usage post pandemic, prompting an investigation into nurse administrators' perspectives on replacing clinical hours with SBE.

Methods: This descriptive quality improvement study was informed by Rogers' Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) Theory. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four academic nurse administrators from various pre-licensure nursing programs in Maryland. The data collected were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results: Nurse administrators who value SBE as a safe learning space are integral when building and maintaining infrastructure to support simulation usage. Identified barriers related to faculty buy-in, workload, and inadequate human resources to deliver high-quality simulations can hinder sustained adoption of clinical simulation.

Conclusions: This study highlights the necessity of continuous faculty training in SBE and dedicated resources to support simulation infrastructure. Recommendations include sustained investment in faculty development, creating specialized roles for simulation champions, and fostering collaborations to strengthen simulation integration. The findings emphasize the pivotal role of nurse administrators in navigating challenges and maximizing SBE's potential to replace clinical hours in nursing education, urging ongoing support and strategic planning for successful integration.