Five alive: using mock code simulation to improve responder performance during the first 5 minutes of a code

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Emergency Medicine
• Nursing Simulation

Background:

• Registered nurses require effective training to manage medical emergencies.
• Traditional training methods may not fully prepare nurses for high-stress scenarios.
• Simulation-based training offers a controlled environment to practice critical skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of in-situ mock code simulation training.
• To improve registered nurses' responder performance in emergency situations.
• To assess the impact of simulation on nurses' confidence and response times.

Main Methods:

• Monthly in-situ mock codes conducted on medical-surgical/telemetry units.
• Utilized a 3-G Sim Man and unit-specific emergency equipment for realistic scenarios.
• Included debriefing, post-surveys, and evaluation of participant confidence and response times (CPR, defibrillation).

Main Results:

• Over 250 nurses participated in the 'Five Alive' course.
• Participants reported increased confidence in recognizing patient deterioration post-simulation.
• Demonstrated significant improvement in the time to initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation.

Conclusions:

• In-situ medical emergency team/code simulation with debriefing enhances responder performance.
• The 'Five Alive' program is an effective monthly training tool for nurses.
• Scheduling simulations to minimize disruption to patient care remains a logistical challenge.