In this cross-sectional study, we explored course content related to pharmacology and/or healthcare products and supplies in all nursing degree programs in Spain. Changes in nurse-prescribing legislation in Spain require that nurses take a certification course before prescribing over-the-counter products and medications. Using a cross-sectional descriptive study, between July and September 2014, the degree programs of all centers that offer a degree in nursing in Spain were examined, selecting those with course information available online. All centers offered at least one pharmacology course. One-third of the required courses had content related to pharmacology and healthcare products/supplies. The analysis showed that the course content and training received during the current nursing degree program provides the knowledge and skills needed to prescribe healthcare products/supplies and medications that do not now require a doctor's prescription, without the need for additional training and certification. It is essential that government regulation of nursing education be aligned with nursing competencies, curriculum standards, clinical practice, and evidence-based research to provide the maximum level of confidence for nursing professionals and their patients.
The Educational Practices Questionnaire is an instrument for assessing students perceptions of best educational practices in simulation. As for other countries, in Spain, it is necessary to have validated rubrics to measure the effects of simulation. The objective of this study was to carry out a translation and cultural adaptation of the Educational Practices Questionnaire into Spanish and analyze its reliability and validity. The study was carried out in two phases: (1) adaptation of the questionnaire into Spanish. (2) Cross-sectional study in a sample of 626 nursing students. Psychometric properties were analyzed in terms of reliability and construct validity by confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis. The exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses showed that the one-dimensional model is acceptable for both scales (presence and importance). The results show that the participants' scores can be calculated and interpreted for the general factor and also for the four subscales. Cronbach's alpha and the Omega Index were also suitable for all the scales and for each of the dimensions. The Educational Practices Questionnaire is a simple and easy-to-administer tool to measure how nursing degree students perceive the presence and importance of best educational practices.
Background:
The COVID-19 pandemic has made it necessary to adapt university health-education. Virtual simulation has been proposed to be a suitable tool.
Methods:
A quasi-experimental study was conducted on nursing students in the final year. The virtual simulation platform vSim® was used. Improvements in knowledge, skills during simulation, satisfaction and self-confidence obtained through the training provided were analyzed, as well as satisfaction with the platform.
Results:
Pre-post training knowledge improved. Skill acquisition improved between the first and last attempts in all cases. The levels of self-confidence and satisfaction with the training and the platform used were high.
Conclusions:
The vSim® was a useful solution during the pandemic. Knowledge improved and high self-confidence was obtained.
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