Trauma Skill Stations to Improve ED Staff Confidence and Engagement

Abstract

Introduction:

Particular skills are critical when participating in trauma response. Engagement and practice with these skills can help build staff confidence, however, ensuring competency across all staff can prove challenging. Establishing a training utilizing skill stations can positively affect staff experience and confidence measures on predetermined dates to capture all team members is a way to ensure confidence in skills vital for patient care in ED settings. Execution of the “skill station” exercises at measured intervals demonstrated improved confidence in trauma skills by ED staff. Exercises with specific skill-oriented practicum offer low-cost, dynamic training opportunities. Improving confidence and competence in critical trauma-related clinical skills directly improves patient outcomes.

Method:

Six trauma skill stations were created, aimed at specific skill-based practices. These measured skill competencies include arterial line setup, rapid blood infuser use, defibrillator use, chest tube management, pelvic binder application, and tourniquet application. Competency was reached when participants could effectively perform the skills through teach-back technique.

Results:

Qualitative feedback demonstrated that nurses felt more confident responding to a patient needing trauma interventions in an ED setting. Nursing staff were more engaged with trauma skills in their scope. All participants were able to appropriately and adequately teach-back the skill with 100% accuracy. Improved knowledge retention will be measured in future training sessions.

Pre and post-tests could be utilized to demonstrate more dynamic results. This measurement tool will be utilized in the formal training process moving forward to capture baseline and improvement data more objectively.

Conclusion:

This low-cost and highly efficient method of strengthening novice nurses’ trauma skills competency and confidence can be utilized across various skills and departments. More confident nurses show improved readiness to respond to a patient in need of trauma interventions.