Using Simulation to Prepare Nursing Staff for the Move to a New Building.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Education
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Hospital expansion necessitates comprehensive staff training for new units.
• Limited evidence exists to guide best practices in training for expanded healthcare facilities.
• Effective training is crucial for maintaining patient care standards during transitions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an education, training, and orientation approach for new nursing units.
• To evaluate the impact of a simulation-based training program on staff readiness and patient safety.
• To provide a replicable model for nursing professional development in similar settings.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a simulation-based education, training, and orientation program.
• Utilized a large academic medical center setting for program development and testing.
• Program evaluation focused on assessing staff readiness and patient safety outcomes.

Main Results:

• The simulation-based program positively impacted staff readiness for the new unit.
• Demonstrated a positive effect on patient safety metrics post-implementation.
• Program evaluation indicated successful knowledge and skill transfer.

Conclusions:

• Simulation-based training is an effective strategy for preparing nursing staff for new units.
• This approach enhances staff readiness and contributes to improved patient safety.
• Nursing professional development can adapt this model for facility expansions.