Cardiac emergency simulation: drilling for success in the ambulatory setting

The "see one, do one, teach one" method of clinical teaching is no longer practical for preparing perioperative personnel to respond to emergency situations. Teaching with simulation trains team members to respond to unexpected events and enables them to provide care when an emergency situation arises. Simulation drills resemble clinical practice and allow personnel to apply and integrate skills, teamwork, and critical thinking. This article provides information and tools for performing cardiac simulation drills in the ambulatory setting. Tools included are a 10-step guide to simulation drills, a scenario, roles and duties to assign during a drill, and a drill evaluation form.