Using Standardized Patient Simulation to Improve Nursing Students' Perceptions, Knowledge, Beliefs, and Attitudes About People Who Use Drugs and Opioid Overdose Prevention

Harm reduction approaches are well-established public health interventions that can reduce mortality associated with substance use. Concepts related to harm reduction and overdose prevention have been virtually absent in the nursing education literature. This study by Dr. Brayden Kameg and colleagues evaluated changes in nursing students' perceptions toward people who use drugs and knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes about overdose prevention following an opioid overdose prevention workshop using simulation. A total of 569 students participated in the workshop. Competence and readiness to manage an overdose increased among participants (P < .01).