A comparison study on integrating electronic health records into priority simulation in undergraduate nursing education

Abstract

Background: Electronic Health Records (EHR) make real time point of care efficient. We implemented EHR into our existing simulation exercise and attempted to evaluate the students’ perception on the effectiveness of the simulation in our undergraduate nursing students in comparison to the same cohort who had the same simulation without using electronic health records in the prior year.

Purpose: The main purpose of this study is to assess the difference on simulation effectiveness perceived by the students in the group with and without utilizing EHR in simulation exercise.

Method: A descriptive research design and convenience sampling was used to compare the effectiveness of perception data collected from the students after the simulation in these two groups. The difference in perception was compared by using the t-test.

Result: There is no statistically significant change in students’ perception (t = .79, p = .42) between the simulation (SIM) and the simulation with EHR integration (SIMEHR) group. The confidence in providing care and knowing the patient by utilizing electronic health records has been reported as between somewhat agree to strongly agree.

Discussion: Integrating EHR into simulation did not significantly change students’ perception on simulation effectiveness. The implication from this study is that the integration of EHR into the simulation can be accomplished with careful prior planning with emphasis on introducing the strategies that enhance students’ ability to get familiarized with the EHR system.