Pathway to Preparedness - How Simulation Was Used to Prepare Volunteer Nurses to Work as a Cohesive Team

Abstract

In September 2014 all Hospitals in the USA were in a state pf panic. Ebola had arrived in Texas and the race was on to ensure staff safety and preparedness should a patient present in their hospital. This event triggered the emergent need for all US hospitals, to formulate a plan. Recognizing this and interprofessional volunteer care team was assembled to meet the need should any patient with a highly infectious disease arrive in our hospital. Preparation encompasses a path with safety as the foundation. Thru the use of simulation and deliberate practice the layers of competency and proficiency are added. Simulation has been used to improve individual and team performances (1). Conjoined with deliberate practice(DP) which is a combination of immediate feedback, protected time for problem solving, and opportunities for repeated performance to refine behaviors(2), effective learning is achieved. A rigorous Infections disease team training program was designed that utilizes simulation and deliberate practice to expose the team to high risk low volume events in a safe protected environment. Thru drills and interprofessional hospital wide infectious simulation days we have refined skills, developed procedures and processes. This fostered the creation of team that is highly skilled, aware of other team member’s roles and responsibilities believe in the importance of the team and are prepared to respond to any infectious disease emergency throughout the hospital.