Research Pilot Study: Improving Nursing Students’ Lactation Skills, Clinical Performance, and Documentation Through an Innovative Simulation Experience

Objectives: Nurses are the frontline healthcare professionals providing support and lactation care for breastfeeding families. Improving access to lactation education requires adaptive measures within the professional and academic setting. The purpose of this study was to investigate if student competency and self-efficacy to support breastfeeding dyads, improves via participation in a high-fidelity simulation. Methods: This original pilot study demonstrated that a faculty-driven half-day 3-station lactation simulation with high-fidelity equipment was effective and feasible among pre-licensure nursing students in the academic setting. Outcomes were assessed via a quasi-approach, quantitative surveys and qualitative observation. Results and Conclusions: Nursing students reported a high degree of improvement in satisfaction and confidence (self-efficacy) in their breastfeeding skills and perceived ability to transfer knowledge into future practice (competency). The diverse approach described in this pilot study can be executed with varying levels of faculty expertise, resources, budget, and student learning needs and interests.