Aims: This study aimed to design and evaluate the effectiveness of application-based clinical simulation scenarios on improving the clinical decision-making skills of nursing students.
Methods: This quasi-experimental pretest–posttest study with a two-group design included 42 third-semester undergraduate nursing students from Dezful University of Medical Sciences. Participants were recruited using a census sampling method and allocated into an intervention group (n = 21) and a control group (n = 21). Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and Lauri's Clinical Decision-Making Questionnaire. The intervention group participated in six application-based clinical simulation scenarios developed by the researchers. The scenarios were implemented through small-group discussions during six 30-minute sessions throughout the clinical internship period. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS software
Findings: The mean clinical decision-making score in the intervention group increased from 80.33 at pretest to 87.23 at posttest, whereas the mean score in the control group decreased from 85.28 at pretest to 81.56 at posttest. However, the results of the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), after controlling for pretest scores, showed no statistically significant difference in clinical decision-making scores between the intervention and control groups.Conclusion: Although simulation-based education is known to enhance nursing competencies, the definitive effectiveness of mobile application-based clinical simulation scenarios in improving clinical decision-making requires further evidence from well-designed studies.