An Immersive Mirror: A Descriptive Study of Peer Observer and Active Participant Experiences in Simulation

Background There is limited evidence and humanistic thinking about the thoughts and reactions of peer observers during nursing simulation. An increased understanding may provide new insights and opportunities to advance therapeutic relationships and holistic care. This study explored peer observer and active participant thoughts during simulation to better understand how shared learning experiences transform and improve nursing practice. Methods A qualitive descriptive design generated data via peer observers and active participants’ self-reported experiences from pre-registration second-year, nursing students. Responses were synthesized and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results From 175 peer-observer accounts, four codes were generated and synthesized into three themes: Observer self-critique and critique of others; observer empathy and affect; and observers’ outsider perspective. Six codes were generated from the analysis of 234 active participant accounts analysis and synthesized into three themes: participant affect; participant cognition and participant confidence. Conclusions The peer observer role can experience simulation as an immersive and emotive encounter that may indicate active and deep learning is occurring. Simulation learning design should prioritize the identification of empathy experienced by observers for the participants and explicitly include it in cognitive processing undertaken during simulation debrief. Linking the experience of empathy with nursing theory in simulation is a powerful learning tool.