Hospital Nurses' Simulation-Based Education Regarding Patient Safety: A Scoping Review

BackgroundLittle is known about the clinical impact of simulation-based education (SBE) for hospital nurses.MethodScoping review methodology was used to examine the impact of nurse SBE programs within six patient safety domains.ResultsTwenty-six articles described over 20 education topics. Based on Kirkpatrick's four levels of evaluation, programs prioritized superficial levels of evaluation: Level 1—Reaction, Level 2—Learning. Only seven studies measured Level 3—Behavior change (nurses' performance) or Level 4—Results (impact on patient care).Conclusion(s)Nurses' CPD programs should include both short-term evaluations and longitudinal measures to detect practice improvements that may advance patient safety.