Socially Distanced Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP): A Technical Report on How to Teach NRP Courses During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Kristy Robinson,Hai-Yen Tang,Taylor Sawyer,Jenifer Peterson,Erika Metzenberg,Rachel Umoren

doi:10.7759/cureus.10959

Abstract

In this technical report, we describe a method for teaching the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) courses while also maintaining social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic: a method we call ‘Socially Distanced NRP.’ The unique aspects of Socially Distanced NRP courses include small class sizes, keeping one group of students and their instructors together throughout the course, and creating socially distanced stations where students complete the performance skills, integrated skills, and simulation and debriefing parts of the NRP course. The four socially distanced stations include airway, chest compressions, umbilical venous catheter placement, and team leader. Feedback from 79 NRP students showed no difference in overall course rating between Socially Distanced NRP and standard NRP courses. No cases of COVID-19 transmission were identified in the Socially Distanced NRP courses. We believe that Socially Distanced NRP is a safe and effective way to provide mandatory NRP training during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlights

The Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) is a simulation-based educational program that teaches healthcare providers the cognitive, technical, and behavioral skills required to perform a neonatal resuscitation [1]
We describe a method for teaching the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) courses while maintaining social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic: a method we call ‘Socially Distanced NRP.’
Feedback from 79 NRP students showed no difference in overall course rating between Socially Distanced NRP and standard NRP courses

Summary

Introduction

The Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) is a simulation-based educational program that teaches healthcare providers the cognitive, technical, and behavioral skills required to perform a neonatal resuscitation [1]. We included four separate skills stations in our Socially Distanced NRP classes: airway, chest compressions, umbilical venous catheter (UVC) placement, and team leader. (Figure 4) The performance skills stations included airway skills, chest compressions, umbilical venous catheter (UVC) placement, and team leader - as noted above. In addition to the performance skills stations, the Socially Distanced NRP course included an integrated skills station used to evaluate a student’s ability to correctly incorporate all relevant NRP resuscitation skills into a scenario without instructor assistance. During the simulation and debriefing part of the Socially Distanced NRP course the students work together to perform a simulated neonatal resuscitation, but each team member is socially distanced by standing at one of the four stations noted above. All students are working together in real-time

Discussion

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Conclusions

Disclosures