Critical incident analysis can better prepare nurses, study finds

A study concluded educators could integrate critical incident data with trainee self-assessment to develop a specific simulation curriculum to better prepare nurses. Published in the August 2023 Simulation in Healthcare, the researchers identified common ICU situations and skills during code blue events and measured trainees’ self-reported confidence in these skills. More than 25% of trainees reported low levels of confidence with familiarity with the advanced life support trolley, electrocardiogram strip interpretations and using an external defibrillator. The authors suggest researchers could integrate critical incident data with trainee self-assessment in other clinical situations to develop targeted education and simulation curriculum. (AHRQ Journal of Patient Safety article, 9/13/23)