J Educ Res Nurs. Ahead of Print: JERN-77150 | DOI: 10.14744/jern.2025.77150

Preparing Nurses to Deliver Bad News: A Scoping Review of Simulation-Based Methods

Anna Christine Steinacker, Marion Diegelmann
Department of Health Sciences, Fulda University of Applied Sciences, Fulda, Germany

Background: Delivering bad news is a critical communication skill for nursing students. It requires sensitivity, empathy, and clarity, yet opportunities to develop this skill in clinical settings may be limited.
Aim: This review aims to explore how nursing students are trained to deliver bad news through simulation-based education.
Methods: A scoping review was conducted in December 2024, searching PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Google Scholar. The review followed the Arksey and O'Malley framework in accordance with PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. A thematic analysis was applied to identify key themes in the selected articles.
Results: Four major themes were identified across 10 studies through the process of thematic analysis: Benefits of Simulation-Based Learning, the Value of Interprofessional Learning, Innovative Technologies, and Emotional Challenges. Simulation methods were found to be effective in enhancing students' preparedness and communication skills, particularly when used in interprofessional settings.
Conclusion: Simulation-based education is a valuable tool for training nursing students to deliver bad news. Incorporating interprofessional and technology-enhanced approaches can further enrich learning outcomes and better prepare students for challenging clinical communication scenarios.

Keywords: Breaking bad news, health communication, nursing education, simulation

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