Conducting root cause analysis with nursing students: best practice in nursing education

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Patient Safety
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• Root cause analysis (RCA) is crucial for identifying systemic issues in healthcare.
• Traditional RCA training may lack active student engagement.
• Bridging the gap between simulation and clinical error analysis is essential for effective learning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel, active learning approach for root cause analysis (RCA) applicable to both clinical and simulation environments.
• To foster a deeper understanding of professional responsibility in patient safety among students.
• To enhance students' ability to contribute to a safer healthcare environment.

Main Methods:

• Development of an interactive educational module for root cause analysis.
• Integration of case studies from both real-world clinical errors and simulated scenarios.
• Facilitation of student-led analysis and discussion of error origins and contributing factors.

Main Results:

• Students actively engaged in analyzing errors, demonstrating improved comprehension of RCA principles.
• Participants showed increased awareness of their professional obligations toward patient safety.
• The approach effectively translated learning from simulation to potential clinical application.

Conclusions:

• Active participation in root cause analysis significantly enhances student learning and professional development.
• This novel method effectively prepares students for contributing to patient safety in diverse healthcare settings.
• Implementing such active learning strategies is vital for cultivating a culture of safety in medical education.