Baseline Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Skill Performance of Nursing Students Is Improved After One Resuscitation Quality Improvement Skill Refresher.

This article reports the results of baseline cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills performance measurements from 467 nursing students. All participants had completed a CPR course. Baseline measurements were compared to performance after one 10-minute refresher training session on the Resuscitation Quality Improvement system. Significant improvements were made after the computer- and practice-based refresher. Findings suggest that staff developers should evaluate the use of audio and visual feedback devices to improve the quality of CPR provided by clinical staff.

Using Simulation to Train Medical Units for Deployment.

INTRODUCTION: Recent downsizing and budgeting issues have led to challenges when attempting to train military health care reserve forces. A specific military unit collaborated with a university simulation center in order to provide more meaningful training experiences that mirrored the deployment operational experience. METHODS: The article discusses the processes used to initiate and build a simulation-based military health care training curriculum. The team consisted of an educator specializing in the use of simulation and military content experts. Rubrics for all skills were developed or found in nursing or emergency medical technician/Paramedic textbooks. Skills station training was completed using deliberate practice, where students practiced until they reached mastery level. Simulation scenarios were completed that included a primary and secondary survey improvised explosive device event. Simulation curriculum has expanded to include psychiatric scenarios using standardized patients (actors). RESULTS: Documentation of the training yielded greater insight into the unit's abilities, strengths and weaknesses. After the initial 1-year time period, 87% of medical technicians and 92% of registered nurses completed training. In total, 12 out of 38 participants needed additional support. The participants reported through the Debriefing Assessment for Simulation in Healthcare tool that they enjoyed and valued the meaningful training. CONCLUSION: Training using simulation has been invaluable to improving team cohesiveness. Building a training curriculum has generated a new perspective on ways in which military units may train and assess the strengths and opportunities of the unit. The ability to see participants in action allowed for a clearer understanding of the knowledge and skill each participant actually possessed versus what was assumed. The information obtained was invaluable to leadership in determining the true readiness of the unit for deployment. The authors offer the scenarios, lesson plans, and curriculum that they developed to other units that are interested in the training.

Using Simulation and Case Studies Combined to Improve Student Knowledge: A Retrospective Study.

AIM: The aim of the study was to examine effects of high-fidelity simulation and computerized case studies in an advanced medical-surgical course. BACKGROUND: The challenges of coordinating clinical education and desire to utilize innovative methods of teaching were the impetus for course design. METHOD: A retrospective review compared HESITM specialty exam scores for groups of the newer and former course design. In the newly configured course, students alternated weekly between simulation and computer-assisted case studies and traditional clinical experiences. RESULTS: Quantitative methods were utilized to analyze data; HESI specialty exam scores were determined to be statistically significantly higher for the groups of the newer design model. CONCLUSION: Incorporating case studies and high-fidelity simulation on a biweekly basis may be the reason for improved performance.