Game-based learning in pediatric nursing: Escape room effects on safety and clinical decision-making

Background The shift of nursing curricula towards competency-based education requires the development of new learning strategies. The use of game-based learning in nursing education has been shown to improve student performance in numerous domains. This study aimed to assess students' perceived effectiveness of a structured, medium-fidelity pediatric inpatient safety escape room. Sample A total of 44 students completed the structured escape room. Immediately after finishing the activity, students completed a survey to determine its perceived impact in several domains. Methods Immediately after completion of the simulation, students completed a survey of seven items selected from the Simulation Effectiveness Tool-Modified to evaluate their perceptions of the activity's effectiveness. Results Participants reported perceived improvement across all items, with mean scores ranging from 2.61 to 2.77 on a 3-point scale, suggesting that students felt the learning experience was beneficial. Conclusions The escape room had a positive perceived impact on student learning. Escape rooms may serve as a powerful tool to reinforce critical thinking, safety, and teamwork in nursing education.