Methods and Evaluations for Simulation Debriefing in Nursing Education

Debriefing is the most important aspect of simulated learning, but actual debriefing practices are not evidence based or widely known. Expert opinions on effective simulation debriefing have been widely published and likely guide debriefing in nursing education. However, various terms are used to discuss simulation debriefing, making it difficult to distinguish debriefing methods. Also, the means for evaluating simulation debriefing are lacking. The purpose of this review is to identify and examine methods and evaluations for simulation debriefing in the educational setting. Twenty-two methods and seven evaluations for simulation debriefing were found. Four areas of differences among methods-suggested uses, design features, supplemental resources, and means for evaluation-were demonstrated. This review offers nurse educators and researchers a comprehensive, practical examination of the methods and evaluations for simulation debriefing in the educational setting, clarifies terminology, and describes how the debriefing methods, phases, approaches, elements, and evaluations are interrelated.