Simulated practice learning

The education of nurses in the UK is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) who follow UK legislation Article 15(1) of the Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001. This requires the NMC to establish standards for education and training which are necessary to achieve the standards of proficiency for admission to the register, as required by Article 5(2) of the Order. Nursing programmes in the UK must consist of a minimum of 4,600 hours; a minimum of 2,300 hours should be associated with clinical practice (NMC 2023). Simulated practice Learning opportunities from Stage 2 of the programme onwards will be designed to enhance your field specific knowledge and skills. 

Learning in ‘simulated practice’ can contribute towards learning, skills development and formative feedback. Simulation can also be used to assess theoretical knowledge or psychomotor proficiency. The NMC (2023) define simulation based education broadly as: 

“...an educational method which uses a variety of modalities to support students in developing their knowledge, behaviours and skills, with the opportunity for repetition, feedback, evaluation and reflection to achieve their programme outcomes and be confirmed as capable of safe and effective practice. (NMC, 2023)” 

At York we value the use of simulation in supporting learning in both “theoretical training” (theoretical education) and in “clinical training” (clinical/practice placement education). We take a constructivist approach to gradually and supportively exposing learners to new ways of learning. Specifically they are designed to help learners to meet employer and sector needs in terms of reaching NMC registration requirements. As such, learners on our RNDA programme will engage in a broad range of simulated learning experiences during theoretical and Knowledge Applied to Nursing Practice modules. This will include, but is not limited to practice based scenarios with ‘sim-patients’, skills practice in realistic scenarios, virtual reality based simulation, ludological learning (using games to enhance learning) and software platforms which replicate practice related situations. 

Simulated activities associated with the Knowledge Applied to Nursing Practice modules will largely count towards ‘Simulated Practice Learning’ hours. These sessions and activities are designed to offer learners the opportunity to “...engage in immersive, interactive and experiential learning where they can hone their skills in a safe environment. This environment allows a student to repeat, feedback, evaluate and reflect on their practice, preparing them to deliver the safe, effective and kind nursing care expected of registered professionals and meets both the employer and sector needs.” (NMC 2023). 

Simulated practice sessions identified on your timetable can count towards your practice hours. It is important for you to log these hours in your EOAR (MYEPAD) under ‘simulation’. You must also complete a register of attendance at these sessions.Simulated hours logged in EOAR (MYEPAD) should not exceed 250 hrs and be signed off by an appropriate practice supervisor.