Integrative Review of Interprofessional Simulation in Nursing Practice.

AIM: The aim of this integrative review was to examine what is known about interprofessional (IP) simulation involving practicing nurses.

BACKGROUND: The use of simulation within health care education and practice has rapidly expanded; however, there is a gap in what is known about the benefits of nurses engaging in IP simulation.

METHOD: Five reviewers conducted a systematic literature search on studies of IP simulation among practicing nurses, published between January 1, 2010, and July 1, 2016. An initial sample of 1,400 articles was found and was further narrowed to 18 studies.

RESULTS: There is a role for IP simulation in enhancing nurses' roles and understanding of the roles of other practitioners. However, the diversity of studies and lack of rigor prevents the formation of conclusive evidence to support IP simulation in enhancing patient care quality and safety.

CONCLUSION: Structured simulation research designs using published guidelines for best practice implementation are needed. J Contin Educ Nurs. 2018;49(2):91-96.