Teaching Telehealth Concepts: Designing a Virtual Simulation for Prelicensure Nursing Students

Abstract :

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic activated an exponential increase in telehealth utilization, and experts predict that continued telehealth expansion will be significant moving forward. Telehealth has potential benefits for patients, clinicians, and healthcare systems, but lack of knowledge and training is a key barrier to incorporating telehealth into clinical practice. Many nursing programs have not yet integrated telehealth knowledge or skills into academic training, despite recommendations from professional organizations. A simulation learning experience (SLE) replicating a telehealth nursing encounter was developed to increase student knowledge, skills, and confidence in telehealth nursing.


Methods: The telehealth SLE was designed using the HSSBP™ Standard for Simulation Design. The SLE included asynchronous, interactive preparation activities assigned through the learning management system and a synchronous web meeting which included a prebrief, the scenario, and debriefing. The simulation scenario focused on delivering nursing care via a web-based conferencing platform. Students in their final year of a prelicensure nursing program completed the telehealth SLE. Nurse educators surveyed students about their self-rated learning outcomes, confidence, and satisfaction.


Results: Students reported increases in both knowledge and confidence related to the nurse’s role in telehealth encounters. In an open-ended question section of the survey, students noted that they would like more experiences with patients in telehealth settings.


Conclusion: The telehealth simulation was well received, and students felt that the simulation increased their knowledge, skills, and confidence regarding a telehealth patient encounter. The telehealth SLE demonstrated positive learning outcomes and should be incorporated into nursing curricula.