This study concluded that blended simulation-based education can increase nursing students’ critical thinking capabilities. As a result, this study builds on the use of simulation as a measure for developing and promoting critical thinking abilities during nursing education.

The findings affirm the simulation intervention’s effectiveness in enhancing nursing students’ knowledge, self-efficacy, critical thinking, and confidence in MH nursing practice, with no compromise to patient safety. Integrating simulation into MH nursing practicum narrows the gap between theory and clinical practice, elevates MH care quality, and instills confidence in nursing students as professionals.

Hybrid simulation (using standardized patients or SPs) offers a valuable approach to bridging the gap between procedural competence and compassionate care. By integrating SPs into technical training, nursing programs can better prepare students for sensitive clinical encounters, ensuring graduates are equipped with both technical expertise and interpersonal skills essential to professional practice.

The study supports using high-fidelity simulation alongside clinical site experiences to link nursing knowledge and practice. 

Clinical simulation is a useful tool in increasing the self-confidence of nursing students to perform clinical tasks, make clinical judgements, communicate with patients and team members and improve their teamwork. Increasing the confidence of students has been shown to be associated with greater confidence in performing clinical tasks

HFS enables the improvement of evidence-based practice competency in nursing students. Clinical simulation-based training improves the evidence-based practice of student nurses as it can promote evidence-based practice and thus improve the quality of patient care

Nursing literature supports the importance of including high fidelity simulation in nursing education. HFS provides diverse learning experiences, promotes decision-making and clinical judgment, self-satisfaction and self-confidence to develop assessment and safe practice