Clinical simulation in nursing education in intensive therapy: an integrative review

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the publications on clinical simulation practices for education in Nursing in Intensive Care. Method: an integrative review carried out through LILACS, PubMed, Cochrane Library, CINAHL and SciELO databases, of articles published from 2008 to 2017. Results: 29 articles were selected, of which 76% discuss the use of simulation in continuing education of nursing professionals, while the others describe their use for student education. There is a higher prevalence of studies with a level of evidence 6 (17), with 28 international publications. There was an increase in scientific production, with 16 articles published in the last three years. Conclusion: variables after simulation use, such as confidence, communication skills, efficiency in the identification of clinical worsening of patients, development of technical skills, teamwork and clinical decision-making, presented a significant improvement, demonstrating that this tool is effective in qualifying care for critical patients.