Page 129 - Hospital Authority Convention 2017

Service Enhancement Presentations

F2.4 Staff Engagement and Empowerment 13:15 Room 421

Simulation Training Programme for Newly Deployed Nurses in an Isolation Ward
Si MD, Leung LM, Tang SK, Ng YB
Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong HOSPITAL AUTHORITY CONVENTION 2017
Introduction
The transition from a nursing student to a qualified nurse is stressful. Nowadays, simulation-based training provides a
risk-free environment to strengthen clinical skills and responsiveness. It has also been shown to increase confidence by
reinforcing basic techniques, promoting patient safety, developing communication skills, and improving decision-making,
critical-thinking and team working. In order to consolidate newly deployed nursing staff’s clinical skills closer to the isolation
ward practice, a simulation training programme was developed and launched in November 2016.
Objectives
The programme aimed to:
(1) improve response in handling critical and deteriorating conditions;
(2) apply proper infection control precautions in different clinical scenarios;
(3) consolidate confidence and competence in daily nursing practice in an isolation ward;
(4) enhance effective communication skills among healthcare team;
(5) synchronise with nursing practice to a given hospital guideline.

Methodology Tuesday, 16 May
12 newly deployed nurses in an isolation ward were invited to participate in the programme. Two identical sessions were
conducted. Each session consisted of three scenarios in 90 minutes. The scenarios included resuscitation on highly
infectious patients, fall management, and handling of medication incident. A manikin was used and the simulated vital signs
were displayed on a monitor according to the change of conditions. Debriefings were conducted immediately after each
scenario as a reflective learning experience. Participants were asked to review their performance and the facilitator would
provide additional feedback. The training experience was evaluated with a self-designed questionnaire.

Results
Three enrolled nurses and nine registered nurses participated in the training. They were given a questionnaire using 6 Likert
scale to evaluate the programme after simulation. The overall evaluation was very positive. Regarding the training outcome,
all participants rated agree or strongly agree that the training objectives were met and the training experience was useful for
their work, as the simulation scenarios reflected clinical cases in real life. They expressed that they were more aware of the
infectious status of patients and how it may affect patient care. They could synchronise with the nursing practice to hospital
guidelines especially the infection control precautions from different patients. The debriefing also successfully reflected how
they performed and what could do better.
Regarding the programme structure, up to 90% of participants rated “agree” to “strongly agree” that the training content was
logically organised and well prepared. 90% participants also agreed or strongly agreed that the trainers were knowledgeable
and the instructions given were easy to follow. For the venue and facilities, all participants rated “agree” to “strongly agree”
that the location and equipment provided were adequate and comfortable.

Conclusion
The simulation training programme provides a risk-free environment and able to prepare the newly deployed nurses in coping
with the workflow in isolation ward. In the future, simulation training programme will be extended to nurses who would be
trained as duty in-charge so that they can be more confident in handling incidents and emergency situations.

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