Introducing a New Pedagogy to the University of Botswana School of Nursing: Global Distance Simulation

Abstract

The current global health challenges require a transformation in the nursing education approach. Global Distance Simulation (GDS) ovide a realistic and immersive environment for nursing students to interact and collaboratively explore real-world clinical scenarios with peers across the globe in their respective classrooms and their countries. The study aimed to implement a GDS with a collaborative multi-university global team to enhance nursing students' clinical reasoning and prioritization skills. The study used both qualitative and quantitative methods. It involved 32 nursing students from four nursing schools,  three schools from United States of America and one  the University of Botswana. All participating students rated the briefing, scenario, and debriefing as effective, evident by a rating of either 2 or 3 on the Simulation Evaluation Tool-Modified Version (SET-M. Three major themes were identified: Simulations empower nursing students, learn from different cultures, and look forward to more simulation opportunities. The limited clinical space in Botswana, especially for specialty areas like critical care and emergency nursing, necessitates nursing curricula to explore alternative educational pedagogies, including simulation, to ensure continued student progression.