Implementation of a Multiple Patient Scenario to Enhance Nurse Practitioner Student Role Transition

There is strong evidence supporting the integration of simulation into nurse practitioner (NP) education; however, there is a lack of literature describing the benefits of multiple patient scenarios. The goal of this innovative simulation is for the NP student to manage multiple acutely ill pediatric patients and communicate effectively with an interprofessional team. A formative simulation was implemented in the last semester of an acute care pediatric NP program. The scenario included four patients with commonly encountered diagnoses on a pediatric hospitalist service. A postimplementation survey was developed to assess student perceptions of the simulation activity. Students (n = 13) reported increased confidence in assessment skills, clinical decision making, and their ability to prioritize patient care interventions. Overall, 69.2% of students strongly agreed and 30.8% agreed that this was a useful simulation experience. Multiple patient simulation scenarios may enhance NP student competency and confidence while facilitating the transition to the provider role.