Introduction:

Clinical simulation is an educational tool which allows nursing students to experience representations of real events in order to practice, learn, and acquire the necessary knowledge to perform in their profession. In Oaxaca, Mexico, the Universidad de la Sierra Sur (UNSIS), has a robotic clinic which helps nursing students in their clinical learning; however, a specific clinical simulation methodology needs to be developed.

Objective:

To contrast the acquisition of knowledge among nursing students as a result of using the traditional method in comparison to using a method based on clinical simulation.

Methodology:

This is pre and post-test study to assess the knowledge development related to labor among nursing students from the 4th semester. Two teaching methodologies were compared: the traditional one, which included classroom classes and a replication using a simulator, and the clinical simulation based one, which included classroom classes, a clinical simulation scenario, a clinical case, and a debriefing session.

Results:

Statistically significant differences (p <.001) were found between the pre and post test knowledge status with both teaching methodologies; but the improvement of those who learned through the clinical simulation based methodology was higher (p=0.004).

Discussion:

The use of the methodology based on clinical simulation allowed the students to acquire more knowledge on labor among in comparison to the use of the traditional methodology. The UNSIS is now collecting evidence on the use of clinical simulation in order to adapt this methodology to its educational model.

Conclusion:

The use of clinical simulation resulted in the acquisition of more knowledge by the nursing students.