Montana Tech nursing faculty publish article on improving simulation education

Faculty members from Montana Technological University’s Sherry Lesar School of Nursing have published a new scholarly article that introduces a structured approach to “prebriefing” in nursing simulation education—an innovation designed to enhance student learning and readiness for real-world clinical practice.

The article, titled “A Structured Approach to Prebriefing in Nursing Simulation Education: Setting the Stage for Effective Learning,” appears in the November 2025 issue of Clinical Simulation in Nursing, an international peer-reviewed journal published by Elsevier.

Authored by Kathy Roth, PhD, RN; Stacy Phillips, DNP, RN; Nikole Kelly, MSN, RN and Seana Ralph, MSN, RN, the study outlines the development and implementation of a standardized prebriefing template aligned with the Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice™ established by the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL).

“Guided by the simulation standards of best practice, the simulation faculty developed a standardized prebriefing template that set a new benchmark for consistency and quality across all simulations,” Roth said.

Over a two-year period, the research team evaluated the effectiveness of the new template across hundreds of simulation-based experiences. Results showed that students consistently met learning objectives, reported strong engagement, and demonstrated greater understanding of how simulation activities translate to professional nursing practice.

“Equitable simulation starts with a consistent structured approach,” Ralph said. “Our standardized template gives each student the same strong starting point to ensure that they meet the simulation objectives.”

The findings led to the adoption of the standardized prebriefing process across all simulation experiences in Montana Tech’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

“This is significant and exciting, the first project identified by nursing faculty at Montana Tech, researched, and incorporated into the nursing curriculum,” Associate Professor Moe Brophy said. “The standardized pre-briefing template is an innovative approach providing greater understanding of simulation, enhancing student learning outcomes, and readiness for real world practice.”

The full article is available online through Clinical Simulation in Nursing under an open-access license: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecns.2025.101835.