“Stress Management in Crisis Event Simulations for Enhancing Performance”

Keywords: stress management, simulation, clinical practice

The thesis consists of a series of studies with the main goal of developing a stress management strategy that could be integrated in simulation-based training. Such a strategy will address, not just the technical aspects, but the non-technical aspects of training as well because stress is closely linked to emotions and has been known to affect clinical performance.

Through a programmatic approach in research, a mental rehearsal strategy integrated into patient deterioration simulations using standardised patients has been developed. This strategy involves mental visualisation of the task, breathing exercise, and watching a video prior to engaging in simulations. Evaluation of its effectiveness was through measurement stress levels and performance scores. Interviews, both in groups and individually, were also conducted to gauge the trainees’ perceptions and the applicability of the strategy in actual nursing clinical practice. Interestingly, the quantitative measures do not necessarily agree with the qualitative data elicited during interviews. The area of study, therefore, should be further explored.