Turning Classroom Knowledge into Confident Clinical Decisions
See how the University of Cincinnati NP Programs replaced a legacy simulation platform by fully implementing DDx — and why students said it felt far more realistic.
Overview
Replacing legacy simulation with a more clinically authentic learning experience
The University of Cincinnati NP Programs were seeking to strengthen student engagement in clinical reasoning and move away from a legacy online simulation platform that no longer met their instructional needs. Faculty desired a solution that better reflected the flow of real clinical visits, supported diagnostic thinking across a wide range of presentations, and provided a more engaging, realistic experience for students. DDx was piloted across multiple NP courses — and the results convinced the program to make a permanent switch.
Overview
The challenge
A legacy platform that no longer reflected real clinical practice
The NP program sought a scalable case-based learning solution that would allow students to practice clinical reasoning and diagnostic decision-making through realistic patient encounters while providing a more authentic alternative to their legacy simulation platform.
The University of Cincinnati NP faculty needed a simulation tool that reflected the actual flow of a clinical visit — one that supported diagnostic thinking across a broad range of presentations and offered students a genuinely engaging, realistic experience. Their existing platform delivered scripted, rigid interactions that students found disengaging and disconnected from the nuance of real patient care. Faculty needed something better — and more aligned with how NPs actually practice.
The solution
Why DDx by Sketchy?
Piloted DDx across multiple NP courses including Clinical Management, Differential Diagnosis, Well-Child Care, and Women's Health; faculty integrated over 30 cases directly into coursework covering a broad range of adult, pediatric, and women's health conditions; DDx replaced prior simulation experiences while supporting consistent clinical reasoning practice across disciplines; flexible implementation allowed faculty to align cases with specific course objectives without adding to their workload.
DDx offered a more dynamic, conversational approach to case-based learning — enabling students to actively reason through patient encounters rather than progress through rigid, scripted interactions. Faculty integrated over 30 cases across four courses, replacing prior simulation experiences while supporting consistent clinical reasoning practice across disciplines.
How did DDx by Sketchy fit?
Faculty observed benefits that went beyond individual student performance — noting improvements in diagnostic reasoning, classroom collaboration, and overall course quality. The decision to move permanently away from the legacy platform in favor of DDx reflected both the instructional gains and the student response to the new experience.
Case Included:
- 30+ NP-specific cases across adult, pediatric, and women's health presentations
The results
What was the implementation's impact?
Testimonials
What did students say?
A permanent switch — because students deserve realistic
The University of Cincinnati's pilot demonstrated that DDx offers a more engaging and clinically authentic learning experience than legacy simulation platforms. The program confidently moved forward with DDx as its simulation solution of record — replacing a platform that no longer served students with one that prepares them for the real complexity of nurse practitioner practice.
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