Effectiveness of a simulation-based educational program in a pediatric cardiac intensive care unit

Optimal staff performance of resuscitation skills is best achieved through regular effective training. However, providing this teaching in a busy high-acuity pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (ICU) had become a challenge due to time and logistical constraints. A program to effectively and efficiently teach ICU nurses the skills necessary in patient resuscitation was developed using simulation training to better meet staff learning needs. Training via simulation provides an ideal learning environment with hands-on experience with the roles required in patient resuscitation. A simulation training program incorporating simulation training was developed for ICU nursing staff. All staff nurses in the ICU were required to attend over a year's time. The program involved mock resuscitation scenarios in which participants performed various resuscitation roles, followed by video review and group debriefing. All participants completed a survey prior to and immediately following participation in the training and again at 1 year. Data collected included self-report of knowledge, skill, and comfort related to patient resuscitation. Data revealed statistically significant improvement in scores pre and post training and at 1 year for self-reported knowledge, skills, and comfort related to resuscitation. Nursing staff reported that simulation training in resuscitation skills was helpful and positively impacted their knowledge, comfort, and skills. Feedback from nursing staff continues to be very positive, and performance of actual resuscitations on the unit has improved anecdotally.