Advancing recognition of resuscitation medication location in emergencies: A quality improvement pilot project in...

Deliberate practice simulation (DPS) is a tool that can enhance learning through repetitive, task-oriented education with immediate feedback. We aimed to increase emergency nurses' knowledge of commonly used medications and their storage locations in a pediatric emergency department.

This quality improvement (QI) pilot project utilized an observational, cross-sectional assessment approach. Through plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles, we initiated this project in the pediatric emergency department at a level-one pediatric trauma center. Quantitative needs assessment and baseline data on emergency nurse knowledge of the location of resuscitation medications were collected. "Pass" was considered 26 out of 33 correct (∼79%) on graded electronic assessments. DPS sessions used the crash cart with verbal quizzing on the medications. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and paired t-tests were conducted to determine the effect of DPS on emergency nurses' pass rates on our graded electronic assessments.

Thirty-six emergency nurses participated in each cycle. With the use of DPS, there was a notable increase in the percentage of those who achieved "pass" from 8.3% to 55.6% (mean increase of 47.3%, p < 0.01). The proportion of correctly identified medication locations increased from 69% to 78% (mean increase of 9%, p < 0.003). Participants improved on the paired t-test in knowledge assessment scores (mean increase of 4.6 points or 22%, p < 0.00001).

Our QI pilot project demonstrates notable improvement in emergency nurses' knowledge of resuscitation medication location in emergencies through deliberate practice simulation. These findings suggest DPS can improve resuscitation efficiency and offers a promising approach to emergency nursing education.