Using the Digital Clinical Experience™ for Accreditation in Nursing Programs

Using the Digital Clinical Experience™ for Accreditation in Nursing Programs

Accreditation is crucial for nursing programs to ensure quality and enhance student outcomes. The Digital Clinical Experience™ by Shadow Health can greatly assist undergraduate nursing programs seeking accreditation by providing evidence to meet criteria related to student learning outcomes across the curriculum.

Listed below are examples from Shadow Health’s Research Brief on Using the Digital Clinical Experience™ for Accreditation in Nursing Programs that demonstrate how virtual patient scenarios can meet accreditation requirements.

Using the Digital Clinical Experience™ as Evidence for the Accreditation Process of Undergraduate Nursing Programs

1. Evaluation Methods for Didactic Content, Laboratory Work, and Clinical Learning

The Digital Clinical Experience™ offers a standardized clinical practice platform that enables students to practice communication and assessment skills in a safe environment. Within this experience, students can interview and examine virtual patients, use therapeutic communication, document findings in electronic health records, and participate in debriefing sessions. Faculty can incorporate the Digital Clinical Experience™ as formative assessments, prerequisites for labs, or replacements for traditional clinical experiences in various courses such as health assessment, pharmacology, mental health, gerontology, maternal health, pediatrics, and leadership.

2. Assessment of End-of-Program Student Learning Outcomes

The Digital Clinical Experience™ provides substantial evidence to support end-of-program student learning outcomes. Each assignment within the experience includes a validated score that consolidates various dimensions of student performance. The Student Performance Index™ evaluates clinical reasoning abilities by assessing subjective and objective data collection, therapeutic communication, and care plan development. This index measures student performance against the standards expected of high-performing graduates after completing the program.

Reflecting US Diversity Through Shadow Health’s® Virtual Patient Population

3. Incorporation of Diverse Concepts, Best Practices, and National Patient Safety Goals

The Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) Institute collaborates with Shadow Health to align QSEN competencies, including patient-centered care, teamwork, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, safety, and informatics, with the Undergraduate Mental Health and Gerontology Digital Clinical Experiences™. These simulations offer detailed feedback on students’ performance in data collection, communication, and other areas. This feedback helps students understand and enhance their skills, contributing to the quality and safety of nursing care they provide.

For more information, refer to Shadow Health’s Research Brief on Using the Digital Clinical Experience™ for Accreditation in Nursing Programs.