One of the biggest challenges for improving patient safety is the opportunity to practice. Clinical placement opportunities, especially within nurse education, are becoming increasingly limited as the demand for healthcare workers increases due to aging populations.
Not only is the opportunity for practice essential, but also the ability to practice safely without putting patients at risk. Simulation-based training allows students, physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers to integrate cognitive learning with hands-on skills practice without risk to patients.
Reducing medical errors and improving patient safety are essential elements of patient care, but not the only ones. Providing optimal patient care also includes uncovering latent safety threats, facilitating teamwork and communication, and ensuring professional competency is not only maintained, but improved.