Abstract
In light of the recent Ebola virus disease outbreak, the nursing faculty at Memorial University of Newfoundland, School of Nursing recognized the need to reassess and reinforce undergraduate nursing students’ knowledge and skills related to infection prevention and control precautions and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Senior nursing students may have a very limited role in the identification of an Ebola case, depending on clinical placement settings, but teaching them about the expanded precautions used in the care of Ebola cases can serve to reinforce understanding of principles, stimulate interest in infection control, and enhance technical skills that are transferable to other patients with infections. A simulation-based clinical education experience designed for senior students in their final year of studies in the Bachelor of Nursing (Collaborative) Program was developed using a step-wise approach and following the deteriorating patient scenario (DPS) method. The simulation has four implementation frames that are linked to the four key learning objectives, which include the following: (1) recognize Ebola virus disease compatible symptoms, (2) implement the guidelines for expanded isolation precautions to prevent the transmission of the Ebola virus, (3) demonstrate the proper sequence for donning and doffing personal protective equipment (PPE), and (4) remove risk for exposure to the Ebola virus through decontamination. The simulation experience concludes with a video-based debriefing that followed a modified rapid cycle deliberate practice method.
Highlights
The current Ebola outbreak ravaging Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone was first detected in March of 2014 and has since spread to other West African regions, with isolated cases in countries such as Spain and the United States
Using pedagogically sound simulation-based clinical education strategies, we describe an experience designed to teach senior nursing students how to appropriately manage a patient presenting with Ebola virus disease; the exercise can be readily adopted for use with nurses as well
HINTS What types of precautions are needed in this case? What type of room is needed to implement the isolation precautions required in this case? What members of the team would be important to coordinate the care of this woman? What protective equipment (PPE) equipment do you need to care for an Ebola patient? Ask are there any special considerations you need to consider when preparing the isolation room? Consider the removal of infectious material from the isolation room, what equipment would you need?
Summary
The current Ebola outbreak ravaging Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone was first detected in March of 2014 and has since spread to other West African regions, with isolated cases in countries such as Spain and the United States. Using pedagogically sound simulation-based clinical education strategies, we describe an experience designed to teach senior nursing students how to appropriately manage a patient presenting with Ebola virus disease; the exercise can be readily adopted for use with nurses as well. This simulation activity is based on guidelines from the CDC for PPE use by healthcare workers during the management of patients with Ebola virus disease. Nursing History and Physical Assessment: The patient is a 34-year-old biology graduate student from the province of Newfoundland She recently traveled to Sierra Leone to complete a research project on the effectiveness of bat bioacoustics monitoring.
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