Getting Started: Intro to Simulation
Page Updated on: June 6, 2025
Simulation in nursing education is a teaching method that replicates real-life clinical scenarios in a controlled, risk-free environment, allowing nursing students to practice and develop their skills without direct patient involvement. It uses various tools such as high-fidelity manikins, standardized patients, virtual reality, and computer-based simulations to mimic clinical situations. These simulations provide opportunities for students to enhance their critical thinking, decision-making, clinical skills, and communication in a safe setting, while also promoting teamwork and patient safety. Simulation in nursing education is increasingly used to complement traditional clinical practice, offering flexibility and standardized learning experiences.
Resources for Novice Healthcare Simulation Educators
Begin your simulation journey with the National League for Nursing’s (NLN) Simulation Innovation Resource Center (SIRC) Foundation Courses. These self-paced modules are designed to help new simulation educators build a strong foundation in evidence-based best practices for simulation-based teaching and learning.
2. Maryland Clinical Simulation Resource Consortium (MCSRC)
The MCSRC supports nursing programs in enhancing the quality and frequency of simulation experiences. This resource promotes safety-focused guidelines, offers training support, and provides access to tools for maintaining and optimizing simulation equipment.
3. Society for Simulation in Healthcare – Healthcare Simulation Dictionary 3.0
The Healthcare Simulation Dictionary 3.0 provides updated terminology that reflects current usage in the field. This edition includes 41 new terms, over 125 revised definitions, and expanded abbreviations. Developed with input from simulation professionals and in collaboration with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the dictionary emphasizes simulation's growing impact on patient safety and healthcare delivery.
Simulation Design Scenario Resources
Simulation-based experiences are intentionally designed using standardized frameworks to ensure they meet specific, measurable objectives. Effective design builds on learners’ existing knowledge and requires content experts who understand simulation principles, scenario development, debriefing, and evaluation methods. Browse the following predesigned simulation scenarios to find those that best align with your learning objectives.
- Laerdal Scenario Cloud
Offers expert-developed, guideline-based simulation content for use with simulators, enabling instructors to deliver realistic, safe, and consistent training across a range of clinical skills and decision-making scenarios. It also features a range of simulations developed by the National League for Nursing (NLN), offering immersive, context-rich experiences that strengthen clinical decision-making in a secure learning environment. A Laerdal scenario cloud subscription is required to access these predesigned simulations. - Montgomery College's Nursing Simulation Scenario Library
Supported by the Healthcare Initiative Foundation, offers nursing educators videos and supportive documents to enhance simulation-based learning across various practice settings. - Kansas Board of Nursing
The Kansas Board of Nursing offers a variety of simulation scenarios, available through the following link.
Simulation safety is a foundational aspect of simulation-based education, focused on protecting the well-being of participants, staff, and patients. It involves ensuring clear labeling of materials, promoting accurate and responsible teaching, regularly reviewing practices for potential risks, and maintaining open communication and reporting systems. Above all, safety is prioritized over cost or convenience to uphold a secure and effective learning environment. This resource provides complimentary tools and guidance to support a safe and effective simulation environment for everyone involved.
[Source: Society for Simulation in Healthcare. (n.d.). Healthcare simulation safety. https://ssih.org/healthcare-simulation-safety ]