Board #239 - Program Innovation Drive By’ Simulation and Game-based Educational Fair to Promote Patient Safety Awareness (Submission #8087)

Abstract

Objectives Nurses are under increased pressure to provide care to patients which is both safe and effective (Durham & Alden, 2008). Schools of nursing feel the pressure to incorporate more patient safety education into already full courses of study to prepare graduates for the pressures of healthcare work (Durham & Alden, 2008). Simulation-based education is one of the most widely used educational methods to teach patient safety (Salas, Wilson, Burke, & Priest, 2005). Despite the noted successes of simulation-based learning, simulation experiences take a great deal of human and capital resources to produce quality educational experiences. Further, it is difficult to complete large scale simulation experiences in short periods of time. Description As part of a school-wide patient safety initiative we developed a simulation–based educational fair to promote patient safety awareness. We sought to determine if such a program would be both well received and an effectual way to teach patient safety concepts. During the 2014 National Patient Safety Week promoted by the National Patient Safety Foundation we developed a patient safety fair. This event was a student-faculty partnership and consisted of five stations, each taught a patient safety concept. (Table 1) The fair was set up on three days during the week of National Patient Safety Week in the lobby of the school of nursing. Students, and faculty were invited to participate in the event. A ‘passport’ was given to any interested persons to collect stickers that were being given out at each station. If the participants visited three stations and returned the ‘passport’ they were entered into a raffle to win gift cards which were donated by the school. The fair was open for approximately 2 hours on each day during the middle of the day when students had breaks from their classes.Conclusion Of the 150 participants who attended the event, 68 agreed to complete the event evaluation survey. 96% of the participants found the event to be a useful learning modality (65% strongly agree, 31% agree). When asked about their favorite station, many participants selected multiple stations, however Name that Tune was found to be the most liked station. Name that Tune (37%) was followed closely by IV infiltration station (25%) and Room of Horrors (23%). Participants were asked about what they had learned from the event. Many reported they learned about things they did not know, such as: 1) I need to learn more about central lines; 2) There are alarms for defibrillators; and 3) That healthcare providers can get used to alarm sounds. Others reported that they learned new patient safety facts such as: 1) Cost of a BSI is $30,000; 2) CAUTIs risk increase 5% each day it is left in; 3) greater than 900mOsm/L osmolality increases the risk of infiltration; and 4) falls occur more often when hospital stays are greater than 12 days. Simulation- and game-based learning can be effective tools to educate students. Events like the one described will not replace formal didactic- or simulation-based education, but they may be considered as effective, well-received educational adjuncts. Disclosures None