Mobile Skills and Simulation Cart: Demonstrating Value of a New Simulation Program.

• The Mobile Skills and Simulation Cart is a valuable way to support novice nurses in their practice. • Nurses felt more confident and competent after participating in the Mobile Skills and Simulation Cart sessions. • Clinical leadership saw an improvement in nursing morale on units that Mobile Skills and Simulation Cart frequented. • The Mobile Skills and Simulation Cart likely contributed to safe patient care by focusing on high yield topics. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted nursing students' clinical training, resulting in under preparedness of novice nurses in acute care hospitals due to gaps in knowledge and skills. Portable simulation-based education programs could be used to meet nurses' learning needs. The Mobile Skills and Simulation Cart (MSSC) program was developed based on needs assessment, followed by implementation and a mixed methods program evaluation. A total of 688 session evaluations were completed by nurses who participated in the MSSC program indicating they were extremely satisfied with the program and reported increased knowledge. It improved nurses' confidence and skills. Additionally, during the program evaluation phase, 32 nurses who participated in MSSC sessions, along with sixteen clinical leaders, reported integration of learning into clinical practice. Patient safety incident reports showed fewer chest tube issues, and increased safety surrounding heparin infusion practices. Overall, nursing turnover remained stable with early signs of potential improvement and increased morale. The MSSC has proven effective in enhancing nurses' knowledge, confidence, and comfort with skills. Simulation may positively impact patient care and safety, with early indications of potential benefits on nursing turnover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]