Date of Award

Fall 12-7-2023

Degree Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice

Committee Chair

Stephanie Parks

Committee Chair School

Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice

Committee Member 2

Nina McLain

Committee Member 2 School

Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice

Abstract

Sentinel events in health care are rare events, often corresponding with permanent injury or death. Fires in the operating room (OR) are one type of sentinel event. Although rare due to possible life-threatening injuries to patients and staff, appropriate surgical fire education is critical in nurse anesthesia education, as anesthesia providers play a significant role in surgical fires (Wunder et al., 2020). The development of simulation exercises has the potential for students to experience and become competent in managing high-acuity, low-frequency events, such as surgical fires (Wunder et al., 2020). The Nurse Anesthesia Program (NAP) at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) requested the development of a modern method of practicing surgical fire management strategies. The creation of an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) regarding surgical fire prevention and management aims to develop a simulation option and an evaluation tool for USM Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists (SRNAs). OSCE creation was guided by evidence-based practice literature and the American Association of Anesthesiologists (2013) Operating Room Fire Algorithm. The Surgical Fire OSCE was emailed to second and third-year USM NAP students, USM NAP faculty, and local Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). They had the opportunity to review the OSCE and provide anonymous feedback via an online evaluation survey. The 51 survey participants either strongly agreed or somewhat agreed that the OSCE displayed relevant, doctoral-level work with a realistic fire scenario that would assist in building SRNA's competence and knowledge in managing surgical fires in clinical practice. The positive feedback demonstrated that the OSCE achieved its desired expectations and objectives. Thus, the Surgical Fire OSCE is a potentially valuable asset to USM SRNAs, who can transition these high levels of safe patient care into their future professional careers.

Included in

Nursing Commons

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