Anxiety, Nursing Students, and Simulation: State of the Science.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this state-of-the-science article is to review the existing literature on the effect of anxiety on nursing students' simulation experience and to identify gaps for future research.

METHOD: A comprehensive literature review to determine the state of the science focused on anxiety, nursing students, and simulation in peer-reviewed journal articles and dissertations. The review led to a critical appraisal of 10 articles that met the inclusion criteria.

RESULTS: Three clear themes emerged from the review: (a) The Unknown, (b) Critique by Peers and Faculty, and (c) The Experience of Making Mistakes. In addition to these themes, knowledge gaps were identified.

CONCLUSION: Research is needed to develop interventions to effectively decrease student anxiety during simulation and to develop best practices for student preparation. [J Nurs Educ. 2016;55(10):551-554.].