Sunday, Sep 26 - Expo Hall Opening
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Monday,
Sep 27 - AWHONN's Block Party
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Title: Simulation Lab Scenarios: A Memorable Way to Provide Hands-On Education to Rural Perinatal Careproviders
Discipline: Professional Issues (PI), Childbearing (CB), Advanced Practice (AP)
Learning Objectives:
Submission Description:- Understand the importance of providing OB/neonatal educational opportunities to small rural hospitals.
- Identify the value of simulation scenarios over the traditional lecture, powerpoint, and text book methods of learning.
- Verbalize how simulation experiences may be helpful for communities which have high maternal/neonatal morbidity and mortality rates.
As healthcare providers, we are constantly working toward better outcomes for mothers and babies. Patient safety is also an issue of utmost importance. Simulation training has been associated with improved communication and teamwork, as well as increased confidence among healthcare professionals. The Northeast Tennessee Regional Perinatal Center serves 10 counties in east Tennessee, most of which are rural, with some of the highest morbidity and infant mortality rates in the state. Our goal is to offer simulation experiences to rural perinatal and neonatal healthcare providers in our region, who might not otherwise have such resources available to them.
As it was once said by Ben Franklin, “Tell me and I will forget. Teach me and I may remember. Involve me and I will learn.” By providing obstetric and neonatal case scenarios using maternal and neonatal patient simulators, the Perinatal Center provides the hands-on care practice environment that has been associated with improved knowledge retention and increased skill proficiency.
Nurses and other care providers who work in rural settings do not have resources or personnel available at their finger tips to help in an emergency situation. They must rely solely on their own knowledge, skills, and each other. Staffing is limited and equipment may not be available. Often the obstetrician, anesthesiologist, OR staff, and extra personnel have to be called in from home, whereas they may be readily available in a tertiary medical center. Up to date knowledge and quick actions of those on the team are essential factors that may affect the outcome of mother and baby.
Our goal with simulation experiences is to practice high-risk, low volume scenarios using maternal and neonatal simulators in order to improve the skills recall, increase confidence, and improve teamwork. So, when a real emergency occurs, the outcome is excellent, even with limited staff and resources. This poster presentation will describe our initial and revised goals, outcomes to date, and lessons learned.
