Effect of problem and scripting-based learning combining wearable technology on orthopedic operating room nurses'...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Nursing
• Health Professions Education

Background:

• Orthopedic operating room (OR) nursing requires specialized skills not typically covered in standard nursing curricula.
• Novice nurses often have limited exposure to orthopedic care, leading to a knowledge gap.
• Effective teamwork is critical for orthopedic OR nurse performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of integrating wearable technology (WT) with problem and scripting based learning (PSBL) for training novice orthopedic OR nurses.
• To assess the impact of this combined approach on nurse preparedness and performance.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted with 20 novice orthopedic OR nurses.
• Participants were divided into two groups: conventional training (CT) and WT combined with PSBL.
• Feedback questionnaires were administered to assess preparedness and performance.

Main Results:

• Nurses trained with WT and PSBL demonstrated superior scores in preparedness and performance compared to the CT group.
• The WT & PSBL group showed statistically significant improvements in overall preparedness and performance metrics.
• Novice nurses in the WT-PSBL group achieved significantly better total scores.

Conclusions:

• The combination of WT and PSBL is an effective method for enhancing pre-operative preparedness and intra-operative performance in novice orthopedic OR nurses.
• This approach fosters the flexible application of knowledge and cognitive skills to manage intra-operative challenges.
• WT & PSBL training is crucial for developing confident and safe orthopedic OR nurses.