567 - Neonatal Mock Codes at Local Hospitals Improve Multidisciplinary Neonatal Resuscitation Team Confidence

Publication Number: 3548.567

Andra Clay, Atrium Cabarrus, Concord, NC, United States; Shannon K. Airheart, Levine Children's Hospital, Concord, NC, United States; Andrew Heling, Advocate Health, Charlotte, NC, United States

Background: Successful neonatal resuscitations require a knowledgeable and skilled multidisciplinary team, and are typically comprised of providers, registered nurses (RNs), and respiratory therapists (RTs). Neonatal resuscitation knowledge and skills diminish over time when resuscitations are not performed regularly. Mock codes enable resuscitation teams to work together in a simulated environment and can identify gaps in teammate knowledge and skills, equipment readiness, and procedural flows that could hinder actual resuscitations.

Objective: This project's primary goal is to improve neonatal resuscitation team participants' confidence in participating in neonatal resuscitations. Secondary goals are to improve providers' confidence in leading neonatal resuscitations, and for all participants to view the educational program as being a useful experience.

Design/Methods: Neonatal providers and a RT created and implemented a two hour long educational program that was provided at local hospitals which contain level 1 or 2 newborn nurseries. The educational program consisted of both an hour long mock code session involving multiple simulations for providers, RNs, and RTs, utilizing a high-fidelity manikin with a specific focus on teamwork, communication, and resuscitation skills, as well as an hour long, hands-on session involving respiratory equipment and skills for RTs and RNs.

Results: 15 educational programs were held at 7 hospitals over 34 months. 138 participants completed anonymous evaluation forms, including 25 providers, 54 RNs, and 59 RTs.

Participant confidence in participating in neonatal resuscitations increased after the educational program, from a baseline mean score of 3.5 (IQR 3,4) on a 5 point scale to a score of 4.4 (IQR 4,5) afterwards (n=138, p=0.0002). Providers', RNs', and RTs' confidence each increased individually (Figure 1).

Providers' confidence in leading a neonatal resuscitation increased after the educational program, from a baseline mean score of 4.2 (IQR 4,5) on a 5 point scale beforehand to a score of 4.6 (IQR 4,5) afterwards (n=25, p=0.39). All participants', RNs', and RTs' confidence each increased individually (Figure 2).

Participants perceived the educational program to be extremely useful, with a mean score of 4.9 (IQR 5,5) on a 5 point scale (Figure 3).

Conclusion(s): Neonatal resuscitation team participants' confidence in participating in resuscitations, and providers' confidence in leading resuscitations, improved after participating in an educational program involving neonatal mock codes. Participants found the educational program to be extremely useful.

Figure 1
Participant confidence in participating in a neonatal resuscitation.

Figure 2
Participant confidence in leading a neonatal resuscitation.

Figure 3
Participant perception of usefulness of the educational program.