The Effect of Halsted and Peyton Teaching Approaches on Nursing Students

Intramuscular (IM) injection is a fundamental nursing skill that requires accurate anatomical knowledge, correct technique, and safe practice. The ventrogluteal site is currently recommended in clinical guidelines as the safest area for IM injections because it is far from major nerves and blood vessels and allows effective medication absorption. However, identifying the correct anatomical landmarks and performing the procedure accurately can be challenging for nursing students, particularly during early skills training. Different teaching approaches are used in nursing education to support the acquisition of psychomotor skills. The traditional Halsted approach ("see one, do one") is widely used because it is time-efficient, but it may not provide sufficient structure for learning complex, multi-step procedures. In contrast, Peyton's four-step teaching approach offers a structured and interactive method that includes demonstration, explanation, learner-guided repetition, and independent performance. This approach is designed to enhance understanding, skill retention, and active participation in the learning process. The aim of this randomized controlled trial is to compare the effects of the Halsted teaching approach and Peyton's four-step teaching approach on nursing students' knowledge, skill performance, and self-regulated learning related to ventrogluteal injection administration. The study is conducted with first-year nursing students enrolled in the Fundamentals of Nursing course at a university in Türkiye during the 2025-2026 academic year. A total of 120 nursing students are randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group. All students receive the same theoretical instruction and access to standardized instructional videos before laboratory practice. The control group is taught ventrogluteal injection using the traditional Halsted approach, while the intervention group receives training based on Peyton's four-step teaching method.