Title: Sim Huddles: A Team STEPPS Approach for Emergency Preparedness
Abstract: Background Obstetric nurses and team members need rapid responses and a coordinated team effort when emergencies arise. Maintenance of emergency preparedness skills, including advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), is critical for patient safety, yet few obstetric nurses feel confident in these high-risk, low-frequency skills. Case Sim huddles involve melding Team STEPPS principles and practices with simulation to increase nurse confidence and preparedness for emergency skills. Team STEPPS principles are proven to enhance teamwork and improve patient safety. Short random in situ simulations of obstetric critical events involve huddling to review key elements, completing a simulated mock code, and then completing a debriefing experience for the students. The debriefing evaluation of the simulation is a practical and effective way to provide the perinatal team the opportunity to refresh their knowledge, perfect their skills, and increase their confidence in response to a patient with an obstetric emergency. Every sim huddle has uncovered at least one latent safety threat, such as equipment or process issue, that is immediately corrected to support safety and preparedness. This process is consistent with current resources and the educational culture of hospital obstetric units across the country, regardless of size or resources. Sim huddle scenarios are designed as a collaborative multidisciplinary team response of obstetric nurses, obstetricians, midwives, anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists, neonatologists, respiratory therapists, and scrub technicians who are present for the educational experience. By participating in a challenging patient simulation, participants develop critical thinking skills, learn teamwork, and increase self-confidence. Conclusion Through the implementation of sim huddles, participants develop a higher level of readiness that contributes to optimal outcomes when emergencies arise. Improved performance, knowledge, and confidence gained through simulation-based training with the application of modifications for pregnancy will facilitate the prompt initiation basic life support and ACLS, which are critical for the survival of the mother and the fetus during a maternal code. With a foundational knowledge of the changes and challenges that occur in pregnancy, appropriate treatments can be instituted, and two lives saved. Obstetric nurses and team members need rapid responses and a coordinated team effort when emergencies arise. Maintenance of emergency preparedness skills, including advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), is critical for patient safety, yet few obstetric nurses feel confident in these high-risk, low-frequency skills. Sim huddles involve melding Team STEPPS principles and practices with simulation to increase nurse confidence and preparedness for emergency skills. Team STEPPS principles are proven to enhance teamwork and improve patient safety. Short random in situ simulations of obstetric critical events involve huddling to review key elements, completing a simulated mock code, and then completing a debriefing experience for the students. The debriefing evaluation of the simulation is a practical and effective way to provide the perinatal team the opportunity to refresh their knowledge, perfect their skills, and increase their confidence in response to a patient with an obstetric emergency. Every sim huddle has uncovered at least one latent safety threat, such as equipment or process issue, that is immediately corrected to support safety and preparedness. This process is consistent with current resources and the educational culture of hospital obstetric units across the country, regardless of size or resources. Sim huddle scenarios are designed as a collaborative multidisciplinary team response of obstetric nurses, obstetricians, midwives, anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists, neonatologists, respiratory therapists, and scrub technicians who are present for the educational experience. By participating in a challenging patient simulation, participants develop critical thinking skills, learn teamwork, and increase self-confidence. Through the implementation of sim huddles, participants develop a higher level of readiness that contributes to optimal outcomes when emergencies arise. Improved performance, knowledge, and confidence gained through simulation-based training with the application of modifications for pregnancy will facilitate the prompt initiation basic life support and ACLS, which are critical for the survival of the mother and the fetus during a maternal code. With a foundational knowledge of the changes and challenges that occur in pregnancy, appropriate treatments can be instituted, and two lives saved.
Publication Year: 2014
Publication Date: 2014-06-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 2
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