Inclusion of Disability Content in Simulation: An Evaluation of the Learners' Perspective on the Effectiveness of a Pediatric Tabletop Simulation

Background: Despite recommendations to include disability content in nursing education, nursing students have little exposure to disability education, which would help to develop necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes in learning to care for patients with disabilities. Purpose: This study evaluated learners' perceptions of the effectiveness of a tabletop simulation in meeting their learning needs related to nursing care for children with disabilities and their families. Methods: The research design was a descriptive educational intervention study. Nursing students (n = 234) enrolled in the pediatric nursing course attended the simulation as a required part of their coursework. Results: The majority of the students found the tabletop simulation with disability content to be an effective educational intervention. Conclusions: The results obtained from this study indicated that the tabletop simulation was an effective educational strategy for nursing students' learning to provide care for children with disabilities and their families.