Standardized Patient Simulation to Facilitate Learning in Evidence-Based Oncology Symptom Management

Background: New graduate nurses lack the specialty knowledge and skills necessary to provide effective symptom management to oncology patients. The purpose of this article is to describe the development of a simulation-based learning experience using standardized patients to enhance undergraduate nursing students' ability to apply evidence-based principles learned in the classroom to oncology symptom management practice.

Method: Faculty developed two standardized patient simulations for a 7-week senior seminar in evidence-based oncology symptom management.

Results: Faculty, students, and standardized patients provided positive feedback. Students appreciated the realism and innovation of using simulation in a seminar-style course. Faculty and students identified that more time was needed for the simulations, and revisions are planned for the next offering of the seminar to address this concern.

Conclusion: The integration of standardized patients is a feasible learning strategy to facilitate learning of evidence-based oncology symptom management principles among undergraduate nursing students. [J Nurs Educ. 2018;57(4):250-253.].