AMSU New RN Workshop

On the Adult Medical Specialty Unit there are a substantial amount of new nurses. To fill an educational gap, this curriculum focuses on infection prevention techniques for indwelling catheters and central line assessment and care. Simulation can incorporate the modality for nurses to experience multiple pieces in one event and demonstrate critical thinking skills. The population specific skills sessions would allow the nurse to learn and apply knowledge regarding chest tube assessments, central line care, blood product administration, Foley care, and gastric tube care.

Course Description

Learners will arrive and partake in a welcome activity. They will begin in the blood product small skills session and demonstrate how to set up the blood product as well as verbalize understanding of the protocol. The next skills session will allow the learner to demonstrate proper placement of the electrodes and use of the MP5.

In the chest tube small session, the learner will demonstrate how to change the atrium and verbalize the assessment needs of a patient with a chest tube. In the next skills session, the learner will verbalize the interventions used to prevent CAUTIs as well as technique for proper Foley placement. Next, the learner will complete the simulation regarding respiratory distress and demonstrate their ability to complete a thorough respiratory assessment based on the cues of the patient.

While interacting with the patient, the learner will anticipate the patient needs and communicate that with the physician using SBAR. Immediately following, the learners will be debriefed. The next simulation will be pancreatitis where the learner will demonstrate the ability to educate the patient on the disease process of pancreatitis and pain management. The learner will assess the CIWA score of the patient by vitals, anxiety, and behavior of the patient. Next, will be another skills session where the learners will have multiple “pieces” of patient information and will need to work together to form a diagnosis and care plan.

The next skills session will allow the learners to set up a PCA and demonstrate how to prime the tubing with the pump. In the skills session about central line care, the learners will demonstrate accessing a mediport and verbalize what to assess for on a central line dressing. The learners will attend the discussion about the procedure for enteral feedings and the difference between a G-tube and a J-tube.

Next will be another simulation utilizing a code blue scenario. The learners will demonstrate the ability to recognize a change in the patient status, initiate a code blue, and demonstrate the use of the AED. Immediately following simulation, the learners will be debriefed. The day will end with an evaluations and the opportunity for questions.

Curricular Goals

The curriculum will improve quality and safety by the education provided. Superior clinical outcomes will be achieved by the learners that will participate. After the event, the aim is to eliminate all preventable harm to those we serve.

Our goal is to promote teamwork and collaboration through group discussions and team building activities.

The participants will observe and discuss unit specific scenarios and procedures. The participants will apply what they have learned while working on the unit.

Participants will demonstrate critical thinking skills in order to maintain patient stability.
Class participants will identify infection risks and demonstrate proper technique and use of equipment (i.e. Mediports, Chest Tubes, and Indwelling Catheters).

Assessment & Outcomes Measurement

At the end of our session, participants will complete a survey that will indicate how helpful the education was and ask about collaboration efforts among their team members. By emphasizing collaboration, new nurses will feel comfortable seeking assistance with their patients and working with other disciplines in order to improve patient outcomes

Patient experience will be improved because the new nurse will be educated on responsiveness to patient needs as well as critical thinking in the nursing process.
The patients receiving care from these new nurses will have better outcomes as the new RN staff will have been educated further on topics in healthcare frequently seen on the unit. This education will aim to decrease the frequency of HAIs such as CAUTIs and CLABSIs which will aid in infection related cost management.

TARGET LEARNERS

Registered Nurses

AUTHOR(S)

Ranae Springer
Supervisor, Patient Care
OSF HealthCare

Jenny Atterberg
Nursing Informatics Specialist
OSF HealthCare