Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Student and Prelicensure Registered Nurse Student Perceptions of Intradisciplinary, High-Fidelity Rapid Response Team Simulations

Abstract

BackgroundAdult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AGACNP) students and prelicensure registered nurse (RN) students rarely have the opportunity to actively participate in the management of acutely decompensating patients during inpatient clinical rotations. However, upon completion of their academic programs, these two groups will frequently interact in the hospital setting when managing acutely ill patients. This combined lack of hands-on experience and failure to practice team interactions may contribute to impaired intradisciplinary collaboration, delayed utilization of the organizational rapid response team (RRT), and adverse patient outcomes. MethodsAGACNP and RN students were presented with high-fidelity simulation experiences in which they worked collaboratively to stabilize and manage acutely ill patients after RRT activation. Following debriefing after the simulation experience, AGACNP and RN students were provided with an optional pen and paper survey that measured their perceptions of the experience on a five-point Likert scale. ResultsThe survey data support that the RRT simulation experience provided AGACNP students with the opportunity to lead and collaborate with intradisciplinary team members in stressful situations and reinforced their views that detailed communication and a cohesive team is critical in the management of acutely ill patients. The experience assisted RN students in identifying criteria for RRT activation, practicing communication skills with intradisciplinary health care team members, working collaboratively as part of an intradisciplinary team, and recognizing areas for improvement in communication. ConclusionsAGACNP and RN students perceive intradisciplinary, high-fidelity simulation to be a valuable form of preparation in the management of acutely ill patients requiring RRT activation.