Lasater (2007) points out that the nursing shortage has resulted in a more diverse group of students being interested in nursing. At a time when there is a critical need for nurses, nursing education faces a critical shortage in nursing faculty. In spite of the inconsistent practice experiences students receive, the demand is present for a higher level of knowledge upon entering the professional work arena. In order to study simulation and clinical judgment, Lasater conducted an exploratory study that looked at
four dimensions of clinical judgment development and the interaction between them. The four dimensions studied were:
• Students’ self-report of confidence in their clinical judgment skills
• Students’ aptitude for critical thinking
• Qualitative observations of students’ clinical judgment skill during simulation
• Students’ experience followed through a focus group