The effect of a web-based educational program on nursing practice in recognising and responding to deteriorating ward patients: A qualitative evaluation study

Impact of sepsis education for healthcare professionals and students on learner and patient outcomes: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Sepsis is an important global healthcare problem that is a key challenge faced by healthcare professionals face worldwide. One key effort aimed at reducing the global burden of sepsis is educating healthcare professionals about early identification and management of sepsis.

AIM

To provide a comprehensive evaluation of sepsis education among healthcare professionals and students.

METHODS

Six databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Scopus) were searched. We included studies that described and evaluated any form of education or training on sepsis delivered to healthcare professionals and students. Study outcomes were summarised according to the adapted Kirkpatrick model of training evaluation.

RESULTS

Thirty-two studies were included in the review. The learning contents were reported to be in accordance with the Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines. Seven studies included the topic of interprofessional teamwork and communication in their sepsis education content. Most educational programs were effective and reported positive effects on immediate knowledge outcomes. Interventions that were delivered through an active learning approach such as simulation and game-based learning generally produced greater gains than didactic teaching. Improvements in patient care processes and patient outcomes were associated with the concomitant existence or implementation of a hospital sepsis care bundle.

CONCLUSION

Incorporating active learning strategies into sepsis education interventions has the potential to improve learners' long-term outcomes. In addition, sepsis education and protocol-based sepsis care bundle act in synergy to augment greater improvements in care processes and patient benefits.

British and Finnish nurses' attitudes, practice, and knowledge on deteriorating patient in-service education: A study in two acute hospitals

AIM

The aim was to assess both nurses' attitudes about in-service education, and the impact had by attending in-service education on nurses' management and knowledge of deteriorating patients.

BACKGROUND

In-service education cannot reach its best potential outcomes without strong leadership. Nurse managers are in a position of adopting leadership styles and creating conditions for enhancing the in-service education outcomes.

DESIGN

We conducted a comparative cross-sectional study between British and Finnish nurses (N = 180; United Kingdom: n = 86; Finland: n = 94).

METHODS

A modified "Rapid Response Team Survey" was used in data collection. A sample of medical and surgical registered nurses were recruited from acute care hospitals. Self-reporting, self-reflection, and case-scenarios were used to assess nurses' attitudes, practice, and knowledge. Data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney-U and Chi-square tests.

RESULTS

Nurses' views on education programs were positive; however, low confidence, delays caused by hospital culture, and fear of criticism remained barriers to post education management of deteriorating patients. Nurses' self-reflection on their management of deteriorating patients indicates that 20-25% of deteriorating patients are missed.

CONCLUSION

Nurse managers should promote a no-blame culture, mitigate unnecessary hospital culture and routines, and facilitate in-service education focusing on identification and management of deteriorating patients, simultaneously improving nurses' confidence.

Nursing Students' Knowledge, Competence and Attitudes towards Vital Signs Monitoring during Clinical Practice

AIM AND OBJECTIVE

This study assessed the perceived knowledge and competence, and the attitude of Saudi nursing students towards vital signs monitoring for detecting patient deterioration during clinical rotation. It also examined the predictors of students' attitudes.

BACKGROUND

One of the most important uses of vital signs monitoring is the early detection of deterioration. Vital signs monitoring is one of the most frequently assigned tasks to students during clinical rotation. However, the attitudes of nursing students towards vital signs monitoring for detecting clinical deterioration remain unexplored.

DESIGN

Quantitative, cross-sectional design.

METHOD

A convenience sample of 529 baccalaureate nursing students in two universities in Saudi Arabia was surveyed using the V-scale from October 2019-December 2019. A multivariate multiple regression was implemented to examine the multivariate effect of the predictor variables on the five subscales of the V-scale. This study adhered to the STROBE checklist.

RESULTS

The overall attitudes of the students towards VS monitoring can be interpreted as poor to modest. The highest mean was reported in the subscale 'communication'. The subscales 'workload', 'key indicators' and 'technology' received low mean scores. The university, age, gender, academic year level and perceived knowledge had significant multivariate effects on the five subscales of the V-scale.

CONCLUSIONS

The Saudi nursing students had poor attitudes towards vital signs monitoring, specifically towards the use of technology in vital signs monitoring, the workload associated with vital signs monitoring and vital signs as key indicators of patient deterioration.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

The findings reveal the need to improve the curricular content and training of nursing students regarding vital signs and the physiological indicators of clinical deterioration. This study also identified areas that require improvement to ensure positive attitudes among students.