Please write a synopsis (maximum 500 words) of the study in the space provided below based on the

specified components, and indicate page where such components may be found in the full study
protocol or in annexes/appendices.  If items are not applicable, indicate by N/A. Attach the full study
protocol to this application. Make a diagrammatic workflow and attach it to the study protocol.
Undeniably, the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic affected nursing. The subsequent disruption caused
school closure and suspension of clinical placement, leading to full COVIDification of education, wherein
teaching and learning methods were restructured for distance learning. The shift to distance learning poses a
hindrance in the clinical experience of nursing students. The lack of clinical practice challenges students to
develop therapeutic communication, critical thinking, reasoning skills, and decrease transference of skills to
nursing practice among others. Further, technological resources and internet access decrease students'
engagement in learning.
The title of the study, “On Simulation - Based Learning: Clinical Preparedness of Nursing Students amidst
Pandemic”, seeks to explore the clinical preparedness among nursing students under simulation-based
learning. Specifically, it aims to answer the following research question: What is the perceived level of
clinical preparedness of senior nursing students in terms of a) knowledge and understanding b) willingness, c)
professionalism, d) communication and interaction, e) personal attributes and f) skills. The results will serve
as the foundation for developing teaching schemes, training programs, and clinical skills enhancement to
bridge the gap in the nursing curriculum.
Accordingly, the study will utilize a descriptive survey design to describe the level of clinical preparedness of
incoming fourth-year nursing students with previous clinical exposure undertaking simulation-based learning.
A total of at least 300 respondents will be purposively selected from an intensive university in the Philippines
offering a nursing program and should meet the following criteria: 1) currently enrolled in the academic year
2021-2022; 2) regular students who are attaining CMO-15 series 2017; specifically completed the prescribed
subjects of the first, second and third years of curriculum 3) had clinical exposure and experience in various
clinical areas; lastly, 4) are in senior year. Clinical preparedness will be measured using 35 items from an item
pool from Chipchase, Buttrum, Dunwoodie, Hill, Mandrusiak, & Moran (2012). This tool will be modified to
make it culturally appropriate with contextual relevance to the Philippine setting. Data gathered will be
analyzed using descriptive statistics procedures including mean, standard deviation, and frequency
percentages through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 to summarize and present the
perceived clinical preparedness scores. Then, upon the approval of the Research Ethics Board and the
administration’s permission to conduct the study, an invitation link will be sent to each class representative
coordinated by the researchers through private institutional email for a Zoom meeting. Each respondent will
receive a link to the self-evaluated questionnaire and an individualized control number privately via Zoom
chat. The survey form will consist of 1) instruction and purpose of the study, 2) inclusion criteria, 3) informed
consent, and 4) Clinical Preparedness for Nursing Students questionnaire. The responses of each respondent
in the second section will determine their eligibility. Eligible participants will proceed with the questionnaire,
while ineligible ones will be directed to the end of the survey. After submission, participants will be permitted
to leave the Zoom meeting.

Participants should meet the following criteria: 1) currently enrolled in the academic year 2021-2022; 2)
regular students who are attaining CMO-15 series 2017; specifically completed the prescribed subjects of the
first, second and third years of curriculum 3) had clinical exposure and experience in various clinical areas;
lastly, 4) are in senior year. Then, upon the approval of the Research Ethics Board and the administration’s
permission to conduct the study, an invitation link will be sent to each class representative coordinated by the
researchers through private institutional email for a Zoom meeting. Details regarding the purpose of the study,
voluntary nature of participation, and confidentiality of information will be discussed with each class. Each
respondent will receive a link to the self-evaluated questionnaire and an individualized control number
privately via Zoom chat. The survey form will consist of 1) instruction and purpose of the study, 2) inclusion
criteria, 3) informed consent, and 4) Clinical Preparedness for Nursing Students questionnaire. The responses
of each respondent in the second section will determine their eligibility. Eligible participants will proceed
with the questionnaire, while ineligible ones will be directed to the end of the survey. After submission,
participants will be permitted to leave the Zoom meeting.
Data gathered will be analyzed using descriptive statistics procedures including mean, standard
deviation, and frequency percentages through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25
to summarize and present the perceived clinical preparedness scores.
a. Objectives and/or Expected Output
The study seeks to explore the clinical preparedness among nursing students under simulation-based
learning. Specifically, it aims to answer the following research question: What is the perceived level
of clinical preparedness of senior nursing students in terms of a) knowledge and understanding b)
willingness, c) professionalism, d) communication and interaction, e) personal attributes and f)
skills. 
b. Literature Review rationalizing the Design
A descriptive survey design aims to establish the range and distribution of social characteristics
through surveys to gather relevant aspects from a phenomenon studied for the purpose of description
and interpretation (Aggarwal, 2008; Koh, 2000; Marilyn Zurmuehlen Working Papers in Art
Education, 1981)
c. Research Design
The study will describe the level of clinical preparedness of incoming fourth-year nursing students
with previous clinical exposure undertaking simulation-based learning. 
d. Sampling Design and Sample Size
A total of at least 300 respondents will be purposively selected from an intensive university in the
Philippines offering a nursing program.
e. Inclusion Criteria, Exclusion Criteria, and Withdrawal Criteria
Participants should meet the following criteria: 1) currently enrolled in the academic year 2021-
2022; 2) regular students who are attaining CMO-15 series 2017; specifically completed the
prescribed subjects of the first, second and third years of curriculum 3) had clinical exposure and
experience in various clinical areas; lastly, 4) are in senior year.
f. Data Collection Plan
Upon the approval of the Research Ethics Board and the administration’s permission to conduct the
study, an invitation link will be sent to each class representative coordinated by the researchers
through private institutional email for a Zoom meeting. Details regarding the purpose of the study,
voluntary nature of participation, and confidentiality of information will be discussed with each
class. Each respondent will receive a link to the self-evaluated questionnaire and an individualized
control number privately via Zoom chat. The survey form will consist of 1) instruction and purpose
of the study, 2) inclusion criteria, 3) informed consent, and 4) Clinical Preparedness for Nursing
Students questionnaire. The responses of each respondent in the second section will determine their
eligibility. Eligible participants will proceed with the questionnaire, while ineligible ones will be
directed to the end of the survey. After submission, participants will be permitted to leave the Zoom
meeting.
g. Specimen Collection and Processing Plan (include plans for specimen storage, data storage, and
duration of storage)

h. Data Analysis Plan (include statistical basis for design, as applicable)

Data gathered will be analyzed using descriptive statistics procedures including mean, standard
deviation, and frequency percentages through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version
25 to summarize and present the perceived clinical preparedness scores.
 i. Rationalization for Choice of Study Site (including capacity of site to address known risks of study
protocol, such as availability of equipment and facilities, as applicable) (Cross reference
information with statements provided in the informed consent)

Informed Consent
- Ethical clearance from the University of Santo Tomas College of Nursing Ethics
Review Committee will be initially sought before conducting data collection. Upon
approval, the researchers will coordinate with the appropriate personnel for
endorsement and identification of potential participants. Once potential participants
are identified they will be reached out through their official university email
addresses only that includes the online questionnaire, the informed consent, the
criteria for eligible participation, and pertinent contact information of the principal
investigator.

Informed consent that will be sent to all qualified and able respondents will contain
the full disclosure about the study’s background, purpose, risks and benefits, the
participant’s right to withdraw, and their expected participation during the study.
The respondent’s right to refuse participation in the study will be stressed in the
provision of full disclosure. Participation in the study will be obtained under no
types or forms of coercion or force. The participants will also be informed that
proceeding to access and finish the online questionnaire will confirm their consent
to participate in the study. Fair and reasonable treatment will be ensured by non-
biased treatment of the respondents and non-prejudicial treatment of the prospective
respondents who refuse or withdraw participation.
- Informed consent that will be sent to all qualified and able respondents will contain
the full disclosure about the study’s background, purpose, risks and benefits, the
participant’s right to withdraw, and their expected participation during the study.
Upon ethical clearance approval, the researchers will coordinate with the
appropriate personnel for endorsement and identification of potential participants.
Once potential participants are identified an invitation link will be sent to each class
representative coordinated by the researchers through private institutional email for
a Zoom meeting. Participation will be obtained without any form of coercion or
force. The participants will also be informed that progressing to finish the self-
evaluated questionnaire will validate their consent to participate in the study.

- Social Value
- This study has no other expected direct benefits for the research participants aside
from the opportunity to receive a cash incentive through the raffle after their
participation. As for its indirect benefits, the study aims to provide insights and
address issues related to the interplay of personal resilience, social support,
loneliness, and quality of life of nursing college students within the disease control
 measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. This can assist healthcare
professionals and educators in developing evidence-based programs that will
improve the overall quality of life and well-being of nursing college students in the
context of a pandemic. With this health-related issues such as incidence of
depression, anxiety, loneliness, and other mental health disorders influenced by the
perceived levels of quality of life of nursing students will be addressed. This will
also be valuable as a source of reference for policy development during the current
pandemic or in the probable event of other similar situations, such as another
pandemic, that involves similar protocols and consequences to the study population.
The findings can then be disseminated in a manner determined by the UST College
of Nursing Ethics Review Committee and the recipients of the information.
Justice
- The researchers of this study aim to have this published to provide accessibility to
the populations that require helpful information in order to convey to the public the
knowledge and distribution of the findings. There will be fair treatment of the
participants regardless of their economic status, gender, race, or creed. All
participants will have access to the findings and benefits related to the participation
of the study once established.
Transparency
- The researchers clearly state in the informed consent the aspects that may impact
the health and safety of the participants in respect to the information they will share.
A phone number of the principal investigator is available for contact to participants
if problems occur. Transparency entails disclosure; therefore, since the study’s
findings have significant implications on the participants’ well-being, the results
will be relayed to their college administrators as soon as the findings are confirmed
to provide information about their students. The course of action to ameliorate the
concerns will be readily available when research results are disclosed to the
participants. The researchers will also inform the participants of the intention to
disseminate this research in research flora and publish the work in a reputable
journal

DATA GATHERING

Upon the approval of the Research Ethics Board and the administration’s permission to
conduct the study, an invitation link will be sent to each class representative coordinated
by the researchers through private institutional email for a Zoom meeting. Details
regarding the purpose of the study, voluntary nature of participation, and confidentiality of
information will be discussed with each class. Each respondent will receive a link to the
self-evaluated questionnaire and an individualized control number privately via Zoom chat.
The survey form will consist of 1) instruction and purpose of the study, 2) inclusion criteria,
3) informed consent, and 4) Clinical Preparedness for Nursing Students questionnaire.
The responses of each respondent in the second section will determine their eligibility.
Eligible participants will proceed with the questionnaire, while ineligible ones will be
directed to the end of the survey. After submission, participants will be permitted to leave
the Zoom meeting. Data gathered and retrieved will be stored in a password-protected
Microsoft Excel file accessed only by the researchers. Once the data has been retrieved,
the accomplished Google Forms will be deleted. Data gathered will be analyzed by
descriptive statistics. Upon completion of the study, the researchers will permanently
delete the file containing information on the respondents.
DIAGRAM

1. approval of the Research Ethics Board

2. Zoom meeting link sent to class representatives
3. Each respondent will receive a link to the self-evaluated questionnaire and an
individualized control number privately via Zoom chat