An interprofessional team at Vanderbilt University Medical Center participated in an in situ simulation training on responding to medical emergencies. The training included nurses, respiratory therapists, nurse practitioners, medical residents, and care partners. It focused on recognizing triggers for activating the rapid response team, performing CPR, and improving team communication. Shortly after one care partner participated, a real code was called and he was able to apply the skills and communication practices learned, which helped save the patient's life according to the code leader.

1. IN SITU
Interprofessional
Team Training
Simulation
Patient Care Team
Interprofessional training on
the unit:
• (8) North and (8) South Nurses
• care partners
• respiratory therapists
• nurse practitioners
• medical residents
• Knowledge
- Shared Mental Model
• Attitudes
- Mutual Trust
- Team Orientation
•
Performance
- Adaptability
- Accuracy
- Productivity
- Efficiency
- Safety
Learning Objectives
Vanderbilt School of Nursing
Maria Overstreet, PhD, RN, CCNS
Assistant Professor
Melissa Powell and Tony Parrott
1. ecognize triggers and activate RRT
R
2. Perform Basic Life Support
3. Participate in Team Communication
Team Confidence
Improvement in quality outcomes
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Melissa Powell, MS, RN
Clinical Educator
TeamSTEPPS curriculum
Vanderbilt School of Medicine
Ray Booker
Simulated Technologies Program,
Operations Manager
TeamSTEPPS is an evidence-based teamwork
system to improve communication and
teamwork skills among health care professionals.
(Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
Post Acute Event Data Collection
• ne cardiac arrest code event since
O
simulation exercise
• ualitative data - staff survey and interviews
Q
following cardiac arrest event:
- Clear and precise communication
- Clearly defined leader
- Team roles clear
- Non chaotic atmosphere
Tony Parrott left a truck driving job to
become a care partner at VUMC. Shortly
after beginning work on a cardiac unit,
Tony was provided an opportunity to
participate in a unit based simulation
on team training during a cardiac
arrest event. Just 2 days later, one of
the patients Tony was providing care
for suffered a cardiac arrest. Tony
quickly moved into action, confident
of his newly practiced skills and he
delivered effective chest compressions
at the correct rate and used team
communication principles he had
learned during simulation training. The
patient survived! Feedback from the
code team leader to Tony reflected his
performance during the event as being
“excellent and key to the survival of the
patient”. Tony states “the training he
received 2 days prior helped save the
patient’s life.”
Melissa Powell, MS, RN