Authors (including presenting author) :
LEE KW(1), LEUNG LM(1), TANG SK(1)
Affiliation :
(1)Nursing Services Division, United Christian Hospital
Introduction :
Hospital Authority had activated the emergency response level in January 2020 to cope with the COVID-19 outbreak. Apart from isolation wards, nursing colleagues in general wards also perform high-risk procedures during their daily works. A simulation training program for high-risk procedures at general wards was conducted in the United Christian Hospital in response to the rapid development of COVID-19.
Objectives :
1. To align the quality of care among departments according to up-to-date guidelines.
2. To stimulate clinical units to review the current workflow focused on infection control.
3. To foster a culture of safe nursing practice when handling deteriorating patients at general wards.
Methodology :
A scenario, with content that included nasopharyngeal swab (NPS), throat swab specimen collection technique, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) technique focused on infection control measures, was designed and modified after obtaining input from Infectious Disease and Respiratory Specialists. During the 1-hour onsite simulation training session, clinical unit nurses were engaged to participate in the 25-minute scenario, and all participants were invited to provide feedback and discuss the improvement areas on workflow and skills in the 35-minute debriefing period. Qualitative and quantitative feedback was collected with a self-designed evaluation form.
Result & Outcome :
236 nurses from 5 departments participated in 13 sessions conducted from February to March 2020.
Among the 203 evaluation collected, the mean score of 6-Point Likert-type Scales on the intended learning outcomes are illustrated as follows: understand the important points of NPS & throat swab taking was 5.26 (S.D. 0.57); observe the proper infection control measures during endotracheal intubation was 5.22 (S.D. 0.56); strengthen the communication among CPR team members during the procedure was 5.17 (S.D. 0.60), and reinforce the importance of traffic control when transferring patient was 5.16 (S.D. 0.60) respectively.
Participants also expressed that the whole process of CPR for the high-risk cases was clearly illustrated. They stated that the simulation content was practical, realistic while “good to learn with fun” at the same time. They found that the updated guidelines of throat swab and NPS collection method, co-operation among team members, infection control measures during CPR and intubation were the most useful points obtained from the program.
Conclusion-
In view of positive feedback of the program, simulation training was conducted regularly started in the fourth quarter of 2020 with support from hospital nursing management. At the same time, simulation training was adopted to the orientation and induction program, clinical representatives were nominated to design department based scenario content aimed to reduce the department-specific risks and further foster a culture of safe nursing practice among frontline nurses.
