Improving Nursing Communication Skills in an Intensive Care Unit Using Simulation and Nursing Crew Resource...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Communication
• Patient Safety
• Nursing Education

Background:

• Effective interprofessional communication is vital for ensuring patient safety in healthcare settings.
• Gaps in communication can lead to adverse events and compromised care quality.
• Intensive care units (ICUs) present complex communication challenges due to high patient acuity and multidisciplinary teams.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a multifaceted educational strategy using high-fidelity simulation on interprofessional communication skills among ICU nurses.
• To assess the effectiveness of evidence-based communication tools adapted from Nursing Crew Resource Management.
• To improve nurses' perceptions of interprofessional communication and their knowledge of communication tools.

Main Methods:

• A pre-/postimplementation project design was employed.
• A multifaceted educational strategy incorporating high-fidelity simulation was utilized.
• Communication tools adapted from Nursing Crew Resource Management were introduced to ICU nurses.

Main Results:

• Participants reported high satisfaction with the educational intervention.
• Nurses demonstrated improved perceptions of interprofessional communication and increased knowledge.
• Teams utilizing the communication tools during simulation were more adept at problem identification, initiating interventions, and achieving positive patient outcomes.

Conclusions:

• The educational strategy effectively enhanced interprofessional communication among ICU nurses.
• High-fidelity simulation is a valuable tool for teaching and practicing evidence-based communication strategies.
• Improved communication practices are linked to better patient outcomes and enhanced patient safety in the ICU.