The research question of this study was: to what degree do nursing students perceive using the High Fidelity Simulation (HFS) learning environment to be helpful in their ability to achieve clinical competency. The seven research sub-questions explored the students' demographics as an influence on rating of "Reality" and "Helpfulness" and the correlation between the students' rating of reality in their HFS learning experience and their rating of "Helpfulness" of achieving clinical competencies as related to their ability to learn. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the phenomena of student perceptions of learning in the simulation environment and the role of the level of "Reality". The significance of the study is the lived experience of the nursing student in the High Fidelity Simulation learning environment is better understood. The detailing of relationships between the study variables and the strength of those relationships may provide guidance for educators to direct their efforts more effectively in teaching and learning. This research used the research approach of a sequential mixed methods descriptive study: survey and focus groups. the data analysis reveals that for eight of the eleven items in Section II of the survey, which covered Role Expectations and Clinical Competencies, the students rated the simulation learning environment in the Helpful range, least Helpful; "Evidenced Based Practice", most helpful; "Teamwork and Collaboration". A second statistically significant correlation (r = .66) revealed the more real the student perceived the simulation environment they also rated more highly the "Helpfulness" of the environment in achieving clinical competencies. The positive correlation suggests that the more real the student perceives the simulation learning environment to be, the more helpful they found the environment in achieving clinical competencies. Another statistically significant finding (r = .62) : the more real the student perceived the simulation environment to be they also reported more strongly that the level of "Reality" had an impact on their ability to learn. Educators may use this new knowledge for making improvements to the learning environment in respect to why some competencies were perceived to be more challenging and others less so.