Nighthawk: Making Night Float Education and Patient Safety Soar

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Residency Training
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Residency programs implemented night rotations due to duty hour restrictions.
• Varied night supervision models can lead to patient safety concerns and educational gaps for residents.

Purpose of the Study:

• Evaluate evidence-based interventions' impact on resident satisfaction with supervision.
• Assess resident perception of night rotation educational value.
• Analyze residents' utilization of online educational resources.

Main Methods:

• Augmented night team with an intern and a senior resident (nighthawk) for supervision and curriculum delivery.
• Instituted a 'must-call' list for mandatory attending notification.
• Reduced role conflict within the night float team.

Main Results:

• Nighthawk reviewed 1007 intern plans and supervised 215 evaluations.
• Online educational material usage increased by 85% in users and 35% in instances.
• 79% of residents favored the new supervision system.

Conclusions:

• A nighthawk rotation, must-call list, and reduced role conflict enhanced resident satisfaction.
• These interventions improved supervision quality and the overall night medicine rotation experience.
• Increased communication and educational engagement were key outcomes.