did they like about the simulation and what would they do different-
ly if they could do it again? Process improvements are identified and
staff share valuable insights during these discussions.
Only two out of the 24 OR nurses who attended the simulation had
ever experienced a real MH emergency.
The rest of the staff learned a great deal. When you read about an
MH crisis or watch a video about one, it's not nearly the same as prac-
ticing response protocols in a realistic setting.
During the simulation, staff said they felt a sense of urgency to treat
the patient as quickly as possible. If our staff ever does experience an
MH crisis, the simulation provides them with the muscle memory of
tasks necessary to save the patient.
A better way to learn
We first conducted an MH simulation in 2018, and we've now made it
part of our annual training. Our staff is much better equipped to deal
with the rare instance of an MH emergency. We're now looking into
using simulation training for other potential complications such as
local anesthesia systemic toxicity (LAST), which we believe is another
critical topic to cover. Simulation training is a more effective way to
learn and we've found that staff enjoy participating in a dynamic train-
ing session. Having the surgical team practice the skills needed to
respond to an MH emergency was the single greatest benefit of the
simulation training. Our team told me afterward an MH crisis no
longer feels like an unfamiliar and scary situation. Staff know
responding to a real-life emergency will be stressful, but they have
confidence knowing they've practiced response protocols that could
someday help them save a patient's life.
OSM
J U L Y 2 0 2 0 • O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y . N E T • 3 5
Ms. Macasieb (kimberly.macasieb@va.gov) is an OR staff nurse at VA
Southern Nevada Healthcare System in Las Vegas.
