Virtual patients, non-technical skills and undergraduate health professionals

Cognitive, social and interpersonal skills are an important part of implementing quality and safe healthcare, but there is limited representation and education regarding these critical skills in some undergraduate health professional curricula. This thesis investigates the influence of an innovative education resource, a virtual patient, on the cognitive, social and interpersonal skill knowledge, attitudes and practice of undergraduate nursing students. This thesis identifies recommendations for consideration when using virtual patients to teach cognitive, social and interpersonal skills to ensure learning opportunities are maximised.