The effect of high- and low-fidelity simulators in learning heart and lung sounds by undergraduate nurses: A randomized controlled trial.

To determine the effects of high- and low-fidelity simulators on student nurses' learning of heart and lung sounds. Simulation is an important part of nursing education because it helps to improve patient care and provides patient security. The sample consisted of 3rd and 4th year students who studied at a nursing faculty in Istanbul between April and June 2017. In this randomized controlled experimental study, students were randomly divided into 2 groups, the high-fidelity simulator group (HFS group, n = 36), and the low-fidelity simulator group (LFS group, n = 35) according to different training methods and their outcomes were compared. Data were collected using a Descriptive Information Form, the Auscultation Skills Form, and a high-fidelity simulator (Nasco Smartscope Simulator) and a low-fidelity simulator (computer-based). In the auscultation skill levels of the High-Fidelity Simulator group were significantly higher post-training in comparison to the pre-training measurement ( < .05). There were no significant differences in the auscultation skill levels of the Low-Fidelity Simulator group between the pretest and posttest measurements. The use of high-fidelity simulators is more effective in the learning of heart and lung sounds by student nurses than low-fidelity simulators.