Game-Centered Teaching Improves Communication Skills, Teamwork, and Clinical Decision-Making in Novice Pediatric Nurses
Gamified learning should be considered as a component of nursing education for novice pediatric nurses to improve communication skills, teamwork, and clinical decision-making 1. Recent evidence demonstrates that game-based teaching approaches offer significant advantages over traditional teaching methods in developing these critical competencies.
Evidence for Gamification in Nursing Education
Communication Skills Development
- Game-based learning creates environments where nurses must practice verbal, non-verbal, and written communication in simulated clinical scenarios
- The Team Emergency Assessment Measure (TEAM Scale) used in simulation-based teaching provides structured assessment of communication effectiveness 1
- Gamification elements encourage nurses to communicate more frequently and effectively during simulated scenarios, with studies showing improved performance compared to traditional methods
Teamwork Enhancement
Gamified learning environments promote:
- Collaborative problem-solving
- Role clarity and interdependence
- Positive team morale
- Adaptation to changing clinical situations
- Monitoring and reassessment behaviors
Three studies examining team performance found positive results when gamified learning elements were included, with no studies reporting negative impacts on teamwork outcomes 1
Clinical Decision-Making Improvement
- Game-based interventions have demonstrated moderate-to-large effects on knowledge acquisition compared to traditional learning 2
- Skills development shows small-to-large magnitude effects in studies comparing serious gaming to traditional approaches 2
- Gamification helps develop clinical reasoning by presenting complex scenarios requiring rapid assessment and intervention
Types of Game-Based Interventions
The 2024 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science identifies several effective approaches 1:
Digital platforms (most common):
- Online or screen-based platforms
- Digital leaderboards
- Smartphone applications
- Virtual reality simulations
Non-digital options:
- Board games
- Card games
- Simulation games (most frequently used game type) 3
Implementation Considerations
When implementing game-based teaching for novice pediatric nurses:
- Integration approach: Use gamification as a complement to traditional teaching methods rather than a replacement 1
- Learning objectives: Align game elements with specific competencies being developed
- Assessment: Incorporate the Team Emergency Assessment Measure (TEAM Scale) to evaluate communication and teamwork 1
- Platform selection: Digital platforms show strong evidence for effectiveness but consider cost and accessibility 1
- Feedback mechanisms: Include immediate and frequent feedback during training 1
Evidence Quality and Limitations
Important considerations regarding the evidence:
- Studies show heterogeneity in subjects, interventions, controls, and outcome measures 1
- Overall evidence quality is low to very low for most outcomes 1, 2
- No studies reported negative impacts of gamified learning elements on any domain of learner outcomes 1
- Limited evidence exists on cost, implementation requirements, and wider dissemination 1
- Long-term retention of skills and knowledge requires further study
Conclusion on Effectiveness
The most recent evidence strongly suggests that game-based teaching approaches are at least as effective as traditional methods, and in many cases more effective, for developing communication skills, teamwork abilities, and clinical decision-making in novice pediatric nurses 2. The 2024 International Consensus specifically recommends gamified learning as a component of resuscitation training 1, which is particularly relevant for pediatric nurses who must be prepared for emergency situations.