Implementation of an Intern Night Float Rotation in a Neurosurgery Residency Program: Perspectives on Patient Safety...

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery Residency Education
• Surgical Training Models
• Patient Safety in Healthcare

Background:

• Traditional 24-hour call systems in surgical training can fragment education and interrupt operative experience.
• Night float systems offer a potential solution to reduce interruptions in resident training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the implementation of an intern night float rotation in a neurosurgery residency program.
• To assess the educational value and patient safety perspectives of this new rotation model.

Main Methods:

• An intern night float system was implemented in a tertiary care neurosurgery program.
• Participant perspectives (faculty, residents, nursing staff) were gathered via Likert-scale and open-ended surveys.
• Outcomes assessed included perceived patient safety, educational value, and nursing satisfaction with communication.

Main Results:

• High ratings for perceived patient safety (median 5/5 faculty/residents, 4/5 nursing staff).
• Strong agreement (100%) on high educational value for residents.
• Improved intern readiness for PGY-2 responsibilities and protected operative time for senior residents.
• Nursing staff reported improved escalation of concerns and response times.

Conclusions:

• Intern night float rotations are positively perceived regarding patient safety by all stakeholders.
• The model enhances educational opportunities for interns and improves operative experience for senior residents.
• Intern night float systems can balance educational needs across training levels without compromising patient safety.