Development of a simulated arm model for practicing intravenous fluid administration among nursing students

Abstract

This research aimed to develop a simulated arm model for practicing intravenous fluid administration among nursing students and to evaluate its effectiveness on students’ practical skills in a simulated setting. The study was conducted in three phases. Phase 1 involved the development of the simulated arm model through reviewing relevant information, designing the model structure, selecting appropriate materials, and constructing a prototype for intravenous fluid administration practice. Phase 2 involved a trial use of the simulated arm model with 30 third-year nursing students to assess its appropriateness, feasibility, realism, ease of use, and to obtain suggestions for improvement. Phase 3 involved an evaluation of actual use with 118 second-year nursing students to determine the effectiveness of the simulated arm model on intravenous fluid administration skills. The research instruments consisted of 1) the simulated arm model and a skill practice plan, 2) a satisfaction questionnaire toward the use of the simulated arm model, and 3) a checklist for assessing intravenous fluid administration skills. The instruments were examined for content validity, and the satisfaction questionnaire had a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of .89. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a paired-samples t-test.

The results showed that the developed simulated arm model was appropriate for skill practice, practical for actual use, flexible, durable, and supportive of repeated practice in a simulated setting. The overall satisfaction of second-year nursing students toward the simulated arm model was at a high level (M = 4.36, SD = 0.39). The highest-rated aspects were its benefits for learning and skill practice (M = 4.47, SD = 0.36), followed by confidence after practice (M = 4.44, SD = 0.39). Comparison of intravenous fluid administration skills before and after practice showed that the post-practice score (M = 19.75, SD = 1.80) was significantly higher than the pre-practice score (M = 15.40, SD = 2.05), t = 17.82, p < .001. The findings indicate that the developed simulated arm model can be used as an instructional medium to support nursing students’ practice of intravenous fluid administration skills.