Increasing Labor and Delivery Nurse Knowledge of Triaging Non-Obstetrical Medical Emergencies in Pregnant Women Through the Use of Simulation

摘要

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect simulation training has on an OB nurseu27s ability to correctly triage pregnant patients. Registered Nurses (RNs) working in OB triage must be able to correctly and expediently identify the care a pregnant patient needs. OB triage nurses are trained to recognize pregnancy related issues that commonly present during the months leading up to delivery. It is as important for these nurses to have the skills to realize when a pregnant patient is having a non-obstetrical health crisis. A group of OB triage RNs participated in simulation-training scenarios based on non- obstetrical emergency conditions with which pregnant patients frequently present to hospitals. Five essential learning concepts were identified for each scenario and knowledge of the RN participants was determined based on whether or not the RNs correctly addressed each concept. The RN participants were able to correctly identify four of the five concepts. They struggled with the concept of rapid, focused assessment. Although the RNs consistently performed a thorough obstetrical assessment, they did not carry out an assessment for the non- obstetrical condition in any of the scenarios.