Abstract
Purpose: Athletic training educators must prepare students to transition to practice as competent clinicians. Authentic, diverse patient interactions at clinical sites may not occur for all students to prepare them for their career demands. Utilizing simulations in athletic training education may improve students’ transition to practice, but little research has examined interventions to prepare students for a team-based work environment. This paper describes the development process and perceived impact of a student, team-focused athletic training simulation educational technique. Method: This cohort study employed a quasi-experimental research design. A holistic, four-unit athletic training simulation capstone project was designed for final-semester athletic training students. The units involved students creating a detailed injury or illness case to portray, emergency action planning, an athletic training room simulation day, and a reflection paper designed to promote critical thinking. Results: The Athletic Training Room Simulation project was a beneficial learning experience that improved students’ preparedness to transition to clinical practice. Conclusion: The Athletic Training Room Simulation project was an innovative method of immersing students in simulated clinical practice, emulating a traditional athletic training room environment. Students drew from the knowledge and skills they gained from their entire coursework and applied them in a four-unit simulation project in a team-based environment. Implementing a team simulation project can be a creative and low-cost way for athletic training programs to evaluate students’ readiness to transition to clinical practice.
Recommended Citation
Donahue M, Stedge HL. All in a Day’s Work: Using Simulation to Prepare Athletic Training Students for Clinical Practice. The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice. 2025 Apr 15;23(2), Article 7.
