Situation awareness in undergraduate nursing students managing simulated patient deterioration

Findings suggest that situation awareness is an aspect of undergraduate nursing education that requires significant consideration by curriculum developers and that education providers need to consider ways to assist students to fully develop this attribute.

Abstract

Overall, situation awareness was low (41%). Of the four domains, physiological perceptions scored the lowest (26%) and projection the highest (59%). Final year nursing students may not have well developed situation awareness skills, especially when dealing with these types of scenarios. Education providers need to consider ways to assist students to fully develop this attribute. Findings suggest that this is an aspect of undergraduate nursing education that requires significant consideration by curriculum developers.