USING SIMULATION TO IMPROVE PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE OF CRITICAL CARE NURSES AT KING ABDUL-AZIZ MEDICAL CITY, RIYADH

• Published in: BMJ simulation & technology enhanced learning Vol. 1; no. 1; p. 41
• Main Author: Aljuaid, Maha
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group LTD 01.07.2015; BMJ Publishing Group
• Series: Op 001
• Subjects: Critical care; Nurses; Nursing; Patient safety; School environment; Simulation; The selected best abstract submissions for the 2nd UAE Clinical Simulation Conference in collaboration with Society in Europe for Simulation Applied to Medicine
• ISSN: 2056-6697; 2056-6697
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjstel-2015-000044.1

IntroductionHealth care institutions strive to develop orientation programs that are effective and efficient to prepare nurses entering to critical care. Clinical education must have combined knowledge of physical, behavioural and technical clinical education (American Association of Critical Care Nurses, 2004).Objectives:1. To identify the effect of simulation based education in standardizing nursing orientation2. To share the experience of KAMC-R in utilizing simulation education to improve patient safety and the quality of careBackgroundSimulation provides safe learning environment, allows debriefing, and stimulates critical thinking skills (Critical Care Nursing, 2007). Neuro Critical Care unit (NCCU) at King Abdul-Aziz Medical City (KAMC-R) faces influx of new nurses; therefore continuous education is imperative to those nurses. Simulation education strategy is utilized to improve technical and non-technical skills for new nurses. The critical care collaborative leadership adopted simulation based education to replace the old nursing orientation. The new‖orientation program piloted in Trauma ICU and Surgical ICU for two months, it was then implemented into all adult critical care units.MethodologyClinical resource nurses (CRNs) are the educators who run the program to the new staff. Clinical skills are validated by using Mosby skills checklist in which nurses demonstrate the skills on high fidelity simulation manikins.ResultsDecember 2010, nurses' anecdotal reports used to evaluate the experience of NCCU in utilizing simulation education. 32 nurses reported increase nursing knowledge, and improve technical skills. April 2014, survey was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the new orientation participated by CRNs, practice facilitators, and new nurses. The result showed that using of simulation enhances nursing knowledge and skills, simulation activities are engaging, and staffs build more confidence.ConclusionA healthy learning environment is essential for optimal nursing training. Nursing orientation requires abundant resources to ensure patient safety and competency of critical care nurses.