Nurse educators are incorporating computerized patient simulators into curricula with increasing frequency. Although several studies have focused on implementation and a framework for designing simulation using patient simulation, discussion of pre-training planning for simulation is limited. This article highlights some of the seminal literature from the science of training and discusses principles most applicable to nursing education. A key principle that is critical to successful training is the pre-training analysis. A framework and checklist were derived from the training literature review and are proposed to assist nurse educators in performing a pre-training analysis when planning simulation activities. This analysis will help educators define the knowledge, skills, and attitudes appropriate for the simulation experience. The tools are intended to complement existing strategies for planning simulations to provide a more comprehensive approach to simulation, resulting in a targeted and effective use of the teaching strategy.