Simulation in Nursing Forum

Laying the Foundations for the Future


Presented by AUT University and proudly sponsored by Laerdal, the inaugural Simulation in Nursing Forum was held on 22 October 2008 in Auckland.

The changing environment of healthcare in New Zealand (and worldwide) is becoming more challenging for education institutions to gain access to quality clinical placements. It is timely to consider other alternatives to providing that quality clinical experience and simulation can be one of these.

Simulation can offer many advantages:

  • Problem based learning opportunities (scenarios)
  • Allows for quality, real time feedback on delivery of care
  • Facilitates reflective practice
  • Realistic preparation for rare and difficult cases
  • Errors are allowed and learnt from
  • No harm to patients
  • Standardised scenarios can be repeated
  • Team interaction and leadership can realistically be practised
  • Documentation of practice results
  • Opportunities for research

The use of simulation in nurse education has been developing rapidly around the world. An increasing number of countries (USA, UK and Australia) are implementing simulation hours into their curriculum.

“The use of simulation as a teaching strategy can contribute to patient safety and optimise outcomes of care, providing learners with opportunities to experience scenarios and intervene in clinical situations within a safe, supervised setting without posing a risk to a patient” (Carol Fowler Durham, Kathryn R Alden 2008)

Aim of the Forum:

  • To explore ways simulation can be integrated into the national nursing curriculum
  • To develop an action plan with strong recommendations for the introduction of simulation based training for pre and post graduate nurses into national and local nursing curriculum


Click here to view the Simulation in Nursing Forum Report


Presentations