Sarah J. Lee
Abstract: Recognition and timely management of medical emergencies in non-critical care units are essential in initiating and delivering high quality care. Simulation training is a constructive tool that can be used to refresh and maintain knowledge and skills for staff that may not encounter medical emergencies frequently. We designed educational materials and conducted a pre-/posttest study on a subacute and inpatient rehabilitation unit on the staff’s critical thinking skills, knowledge, role responsibilities and confidence levels prior to and after implementation of a mixed intervention of a one-hour webinar didactic and one-hour case-based simulation with debriefing. Staff included registered nurses (RN), licensed practical nurses (LPN) and nursing aides after participating in a case scenario using a high-fidelity mannequin to simulate a medical emergency. Among the 42 participants, there was a significant improvement in confidence for recognizing signs of patient deterioration for timely activation of code team (p < .001). Critical thinking skills and knowledge on appropriate activation of the type of response team based on patients’ needs and deterioration also improved after the intervention (p < .001). We concluded that a team-based case scenario simulation course may improve non-critical care nursing staff confidence, knowledge and critical thinking as it pertains to activation of code teams, their role prior to the code team’s arrival, and willingness to actively participate in medical emergencies.
