cardiopulmonary resuscitation ; leadership ; simulation ; team ; teamwork
Abstract
Background: Teamwork and leadership training have been shown to improve subsequent resuscitation performance
in a variety of clinical situations. Critical care nurses, in addition to those who may be part of resuscitation team
leaders and members, have also the need for such training. This study examines the teamwork and leadership skills
of critical care nurses and their perceptions of the need for teamwork and leadership training.
Methods: We developed a pilot, interactive 3-hour teamwork, and the leadership training program based on the objectives
and teaching methods of the Advanced Life Support (ACLS) course. Participants completed a 1-hour lecture,
and discussion for team roles and obstacles, 30 min of script-based role play in resuscitation team training, and finally,
a 2-hour simulation-based team training program. Before the completion of the course, participants were anonymously
surveyed on the perceived educational value of the teamwork and leadership program. Expert raters reviewed videos
of simulated resuscitation events in the course, and scored each video by two existing checklist for the team dynamic.
Results: Fifty-one nurses voluntarily participated and six videotaped simulation were rated by an expert rater.
Most of the students believed the course was delivered at an appropriate level for them, and that it is a necessary
training in their continuing professional education. The video rated average scores were from 68.5 to 72.9 according
to the checklists.
Conclusions: Critical care nurses can learn teamwork and leadership skills from appropriately designed programs,
and believe it is a necessity in their training.