Can Facilitators’ Need for Control Influence Students’ Learning Experience through Simulation? - A Qualitative Study on Simulation in Nursing Education

Background Society has an increasing demand for nurses, but the availability of clinical placements for nursing students does not keep pace with this need. As a result, the use of simulation as a supplement or replacement for clinical practice is being discussed. Simulation can be a resource-intensive learning method, making it important to consider how simulation can be organized and implemented as efficiently as possible without compromising learning outcomes. Objective To explore students' experiences with different ways of organizing simulation. Method: Qualitative design inspired by action research. A purposive sample of 24 students was selected, and data was collected through eight focus group interviews. Inductive content analysis was used for data analysis. Results Three main categories emerged: the importance of a conducive level of stress for learning, feelings of responsibility and autonomy, and constructive feedback and reflection. Conclusion The findings suggest that the presence of a facilitator in all stages of simulation may not necessarily be the most effective approach for learning. It appears that the facilitator could focus more on organizing the simulation so that all participants can actively engage, while utilizing their time to plan scenarios, establish a safe learning environment, and participate in a summary session to clarify unresolved academic questions and nursing practices