Simulation
Simulation is a vital aspect of communication, performance, safety and team-building in ICU. You may have the opportunity to participate in a simulation event during your rotation. It is essential to understand that these are not meant to assess/evaluate you or any specific member of the team. The goal is to practice critical care in a safe judgement-free environment.
Simulation scenarios are designed to meet target objectives set for (all) nurses, physicians, therapists and other allied health. Often the focus is team work and crisis resource communication, otherwise known as CRM, with the goal of improving workflow, reducing anxiety and improving overall communication in a critical environment. Below we have included selected resources that may help you better understand the use of simulation.
Key CRM principles
• Know your environment
• Anticipate, share and review the plan
• Ensure leadership and role clarity
• Communicate effectively
• Call for help early
• Allocate attention wisely – avoid fixation
• Distribute the workload – monitor and support team members.
Carne et al. 2012
Royal College CRM Manual
This superb manual was put together by our own Dr. Peter Brindley, Dr. Pierre Cardinal and others. It is a practical guide to help you understand core features of crisis resource management. The manual is free to download from the Royal College site (Link below the image on the left).
References
Carne B, Kennedy M, Gray T. Review article: Crisis resource management in emergency medicine. Emerg Med Australas. 2012;24(1):7-13. doi:10.1111/j.1742-6723.2011.01495.x. Okuda Y, Bryson EO, DeMaria S, et al. The utility of simulation in medical education: what is the evidence? Mt Sinai J Med. 2009;76(4):330-343. doi:10.1002/msj.20127.
Josey K, Smith ML, Kayani AS, et al. Hospitals with More-active Participation in Conducting Standardized In-situ Mock Codes have Improved Survival After In-hospital Cardiopulmonary Arrest. Resuscitation. 2018;133(September):47-52. doi:10.1016/j.resuscitation.2018.09.020.
