Is Perception Reality? Using Person-in-Context Simulation to Promote Empathic Understanding of Dementia Among Nurse Practitioner Students

Candace C. Harrington, Janice A. Neil, Sonya R. Hardin, Donna W. Roberson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

This one-group nonexperimental pretest/posttest repeated-measures design plus interpretative phenomenological analysis explored nurse practitioner students' perceptions of dementia using virtual simulation. Perceptions of dementia and its associated challenges differed after the simulation. A critical theme that emerged was "developing empathic understanding"; the two subthemes were "mirroring dementia behaviors"and "provoking emotions."Virtual dementia simulation is an inexpensive, low-fidelity strategy to challenge assumptions and preconceived belief systems about dementia. Person-in-context experiential learning is valuable in nurse practitioner education for facilitating empathic understanding. Further research is needed to explore the correlation between empathic understanding and altruistic helping behaviors in professional practice.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)377-379
Number of pages3
JournalNursing Education Perspectives
Volume42
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Dementia Simulation
  • Empathic Understanding
  • Experiential Learning
  • Nurse Practitioner Education
  • Person-in-Context Simulation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Education
  • General Nursing

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