The creation of a simulated rural hospital nursing unit for the purpose of conducting research

Abstract

While the use of simulation is gaining popularity as an educational and training method, little is known about its utility in supporting field research activities. To address this gap, the physical, psychological, and conceptual dimensions of a full-scale simulated multi-bed rural nursing unit that became the ‘field’ for a rural nursing practice study is presented. The advantages of using simulation in this manner are that it: 1) allows processes to unfold in a controlled but natural fashion; 2) supports the exploration of complex phenomena; 3) and provides comparable data sets for analysis. Items to consider prior to using a simulation environment are also discussed.