Teaching and learning about skills in minor surgery.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Skills Training

Background:

• Nurses require proficiency in minor surgical procedures.
• Integrating technical skills with communication and contextual factors is crucial for effective patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of a scenario-based learning approach for minor surgery skills.
• To assess the integration of technical and communication skills in a simulated clinical setting.

Main Methods:

• Nurses learned technical skills (ellipse excision, wound closure) then applied them in a scenario-based, quasi-clinical environment.
• Feasibility was assessed via procedure observation and group interviews with nurses, simulated patients, and tutors.

Main Results:

• The scenario-based approach was feasible and well-received by participants.
• Learners valued the formative assessment and feedback on technical and communication skills.
• Anxiety was noted in integrating skills, but the experience was deemed beneficial before supervised practice.

Conclusions:

• Scenario-based learning is a viable method for teaching minor surgery skills to nurses.
• Further emphasis on communication skills training prior to scenario-based exercises is recommended.
• Future research should involve larger cohorts to confirm findings on skill acquisition and integration.