John Abbott College - Improving Success of CEGEP Nursing Students with Simulation

Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec - January, 28, 2021. Announced by the Ministère de l'Enseignementsupérieurat the end of 2020, researchers fromCégep Heritage College and John Abbott College were awarded a grant as part of the 2020-2021 call for projects within the Canada-Québec Agreement on Higher Education.

This project: Modifying Clinical to Simulation Ratio: The Impact on Québec Nursing Students' Success, Cognitive Load and Mental Wellnessis the hypothesis of Denyse April, RN, BScN, M.Edand Nursing teacher ofCégepHeritage College along with Ute Beffert, Nursing Co-Chairperson and Jane Pearsall RN, BNSc., M.Edand Nursing Instructor both ofJohn Abbott College, all of whom will share in the execution of the project.

This 1-year grant of $182,430 has been extended due to the limitations imposed by COVID-19.

Project summary:
Diminishing numbers and availability of appropriate clinical placements has been a perennial challenge for nurse educators. As such, the use of high-fidelity simulation has been used to replace some in-hospital clinical experience hours over the past decade.

Recent research has shown that simulation appears to be a more concentrated and efficient teaching methodology compared to traditional hospital learning suggesting a 2:1 clinical to simulation ratio. Researchers April, Beffert and Pearsall plan to investigate how 8 hours of simulation (equivalent to one traditional clinical day) versus 4 hours of simulation will impact student success, while maintaining the connection to the multicultural aspects of the obstetrical clinical experience.  Additionally, insight into whether decreasing student workload through reduced simulation hours will have a positive effect on students' mental health will be of major interest.

About Cégep Heritage College

Founded in 1969, Cégep Heritage College is the only public, tuition-free, Anglophone CEGEP in Western Quebec. The state-of-the-art facilities are located in Gatineau, just ten minutes from downtown Ottawa, in the heart of the National Capital Region, bordering scenic Gatineau Park.

About John Abbott College
John Abbott College is a public Anglophone college serving students since 1971. Today, the increasingly diverse student body includes more than 6500 fulltime day students and an additional 2000 continuing education students. John Abbott is situated on the western tip of the Island of Montreal.
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For information:
Debbie Cribb
Communications and Media Relations Officer
CégepJohn Abbott College
debbie.cribb@johnabbott.qc.ca

Denyse April RN, BScN, M.Ed, Nursing teacher, Heritage College

Ute Beffert RN BScN MEd. and Nursing Co-Chairperson, John Abbott College

Jane Pearsall RN, BNSc., M.Ed and Nursing Instructor, John Abbott College