Effectiveness of a 3-Class Scenario-Based Pedagogy in Orthopaedic Nursing Practicum: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the impact of a 3-Class scenario-based instructional model on undergraduate nursing students rotating through an orthopaedic surgery unit. Methods: In this prospective, quasi-experimental study, 97 final-year nursing students who completed their orthopaedic practicum between November 2023 and June 2025 were allocated by rotation block to either a control group (n = 46; conventional preceptorship) or an intervention group (n = 51; conventional preceptorship plus 3-Class scenario-based learning). Core competency (CIRN), problem-solving ability (PSI), and Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) scores were compared at the end of the rotation. Results: Intervention students demonstrated significantly higher post-rotation CIRN (223.67 ± 46.41 vs. 193.37 ± 34.50; P < 0.001) and PSI (81.24 ± 17.55 vs. 71.24 ± 11.27; P = 0.001) scores, as well as superior OSCE performance (90.25 ± 2.15 vs. 87.67 ± 2.87; P < 0.001). Conclusions: Integrating a systematic 3-Class scenario curriculum into orthopaedic nursing education markedly enhanced students’ clinical competence, problem-solving capacity, and practical skills, supporting its wider adoption in high-stakes surgical placements.