Defect-based scenario simulation teaching in the specialized skills training of nurse anesthetists: a before–after within-subject design

The scope of anesthesia services has been continuously extended and expanded. Nurse anesthetists (NAs) are important members of the anesthesia team, whose professional quality and practical skills are directly related to anesthesia safety and patient prognosis. How to enhance the theoretical and practical levels of NAs through scientific and systematic specialized skills training has become an urgent problem to be solved. We aimed to explore the application effect of the Defect-Based Scenario Simulation (DBSS) teaching method in specialized skills training of NAs. From February to July 2025, a total of 43 NAs were selected by cluster sampling to participate in training of traditional teaching and DBSS teaching respectively. After the training, we assessed relevant theoretical knowledge and practical specialized skills, critical thinking levels, and teaching satisfaction, as well as the quality of clinical practice. Compared with traditional teaching, the DBSS teaching was associated with improvements in specialized skills levels (theoretical knowledge and practical ability), critical thinking levels, and teaching satisfaction among NAs, as well as an apparent reduction in error rates in clinical practice. The DBSS teaching approach may have the potential to enhance the specialized skills of NAs and contribute to anesthesia nursing quality. Therefore, it merits consideration as a training strategy for anesthesia nursing specialists.