EVAC: Evacuation of Vulnerable and Critical Pediatric Patients for Nurses

Area of Science:

• Medical Simulation
• Disaster Medicine
• Neonatal Intensive Care

Background:

• Disasters like earthquakes disrupt healthcare, necessitating patient evacuation.
• Critically ill neonates present unique evacuation challenges due to their complex needs.
• Traditional lecture-based training may not adequately prepare staff for these scenarios.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create and evaluate a simulation-based curriculum for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse evacuation during an earthquake.
• To provide realistic training for managing critically ill, septic neonates in disaster scenarios.
• To enhance nurses' ability to assess safety and prioritize equipment during emergency evacuations.

Main Methods:

• Development of a simulation-based curriculum focused on evacuating a critically ill, septic neonate.
• Inclusion of a single nurse participant scenario set during an earthquake.
• Emphasis on rapid safety assessment and equipment prioritization.

Main Results:

• The simulation provided a realistic training environment for disaster evacuation.
• Participants gained experience in assessing safety and prioritizing essential equipment.
• This method offers a more practical alternative to traditional lecture-based education.

Conclusions:

• Simulation-based training is effective for preparing NICU nurses for disaster evacuations.
• This curriculum enhances critical thinking and decision-making skills in emergency situations.
• Improved training can lead to safer and more efficient evacuation of vulnerable neonates during disasters.