Impact of a Simulation-Based Training on Self Assessed Nursing Performance in Anaphylactic Shock Management: A Pre-Post Educational Intervention Study

Abstract

Background: The New Nurses who lack the ability to recognize and manage anaphylactic shock can endanger the patients. In this study, we explored the effect of a simulated scenario designed to improve nurses’ understanding of their roles and responsibilities during the rescue of a patient with anaphylactic shock.Methods: The program of a simulation-based training was designed to teach learners to recognize the signs and symptoms of anaphylactic shock, place the patient in the correct position, stop ongoing intravenous infusion of the antibiotic which trigger the anaphylactic shock, restart an intravenous infusion on a new infusion apparatus, give 100% oxygen via a nasal cannula or mask, preserve airway patency, call the rapid response team (RRT), and correctly administer the medications prescribed by the clinician. Instructors evaluated each learner’s skills and behaviors by using a clinical competency questionnaire. All learners then completed the Chinese version of the Simulation Design Scale (SDS) and participated in semi-structured interviews with their instructors after the training.Results: All learners showed significant improvements in the 6 competencies assessed by the clinical competency questionnaire after the simulation-based training (all P<0.001). Scores on the SDS revealed that the learners were highly satisfied with all aspects of the simulation-based training (the 20 satisfaction rates were all above 90.00%). During the semi-structured interviews, new graduated nurses reported that simulation-based training in the management of anaphylactic shock was extremely important and would guide them in clinical practice.Conclusions: The simulation-based training in anaphylactic shock is a potentially viable and effective method to teach new registered nurses to manage clinical incidents.