Title : Mock code simulations: Boosting nursing team performance to save lives
Abstract:
Background: Direct patient care nursing staff are relied upon in the recognition and early response of medical emergencies. Nursing staff are expected to successfully utilize their critical thinking skills and teamwork in cardiac arrest situations to achieve positive outcomes. A poor patient resuscitation outcome on Dunn 7, an acute care unit, revealed a gap in nursing staff’s resuscitation knowledge and skillset. Deficiencies include demonstration of ineffective high-quality chest compressions and delayed delivery of defibrillations. These inadequacies necessitated code blue management refresher education and quarterly mock code simulations with debriefing.
Purpose: The goal of this project is to improve patient resuscitation by enhancing CPR skills learned during certification renewal (BLS), improve teamwork, and increase nursing staff confidence.
Methods: A mock code quality improvement initiative was implemented to improve nursing staff performance in patient resuscitation events. Education refresher sessions were conducted, followed by quarterly mock codes with debriefing sessions on the unit. Lastly, a retrospective post-then-pre-questionnaire was implemented to determine nursing staff’s confidence levels in code blue management.
Results/implications: In its current state, quarterly mock codes with debriefing and refresher education have led to an improvement in meeting AHA and HMH resuscitation standards, post survey results showing an increase in confidence levels as well.
Audience Take Away Notes:
- The desired frequency of mock codes annually to improve outcomes.
- The impact of real time mock codes on staff confidence.
- The importance of post mock code debriefing to improve meeting AHA resuscitation standards.
