Simulation-Based Nursing Training with SYMSuit

An effective nurse–patient relationship is fundamentally dependent on high-quality communication. Adequate communication skills not only enhance mutual satisfaction within the therapeutic interaction but, more importantly, contribute to improved patient outcomes. Consequently, nursing education programs worldwide have incorporated structured communication training into their curricula for several decades.

Evidence indicates that skills-based training and experiential learning are the most effective approaches for developing communication competencies in nursing. Active practice combined with targeted, formative feedback is essential for fostering patient-centred communication that is both professional and reflective of an individual practitioner’s style.

Ideally, communication skills are acquired through interactions with real patients in clinical settings, as this most closely reflects professional nursing practice. However, this learning approach requires systematic observation and feedback, which are often difficult to implement consistently and at scale within clinical environments.

To address these limitations, simulated patients (SPs) and standardized patients (StPs) have been widely adopted in nursing education, frequently in combination with other instructional methods such as role play. Simulated patients can be effectively trained to portray clinical scenarios realistically and to provide structured feedback, thereby reducing the demands placed on faculty and real patients.

Individuals trained to portray patient roles are increasingly utilized in nursing education, assessment, and research. Although the terms simulated patients and standardized patients are often used interchangeably in the literature, important distinctions exist. Simulated patients are primarily employed in educational contexts and may adapt their performance to align with specific learning objectives. In contrast, standardized patients are required to reproduce their role in a consistent and reproducible manner, making them particularly suitable for assessment purposes and comparative research designs.

The SYMSuit enables the practice of both communication and technical skills using simulated and standardized patients. This system allows nursing learning objectives to be addressed in a flexible and scalable manner and additionally facilitates research within the field of nursing education.