Kimberly (Yaeger) Kortes, RN, MEd
Stanford University
Background: Simulation-based training ahs been identified as an effective methodology for industries with high risk to human life. Medicine has recently embraed its use for training healthcare teams to manage medical emergencies. What has yet to be determined is hw to identify where it is the ideal methodology in medical curriculum.
Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine whether simulation-based training was superior over traditional preceptorship for nurses training to respond to neonatal emergencies in the delivery room.
Methods: Fourteen neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses were randomized to either two days of traditional preceptorship or one day or preceptorship followed by one day of simulation-based training. Approximately one to three months after training was completed, subjects participated in two mock resuscitations. These resuscitations were videotaped and sent to blinded reviewers for scoring of behavioral skills. Subjects also completed surveys to rate the respective training programs' ability to prepare them for their new role and to report levels of self confidence in their ability to perform the steps of neonatal resuscitation.
Results: A statistically significant difference in behavioral skills between the groups was not detected. The surveys revealed simulation-based training was overwhelmingly preferred over the traditional training. In addition, subjects in the simulation group reported higher levels of self confidence in their ability to care for newborns in crisis.
Conclusion: Simulation-based training has the potential to eliminate education by random opportunity and results in increased confidence levels of nurses training for an advanced practice role. This program has the potential to serve as a template for training for advanced practice nursing roles at a local and national level.
