Background: The Nursing Education Professional Development Team were challenged to limit new hire orientation to one in-person learning day and transition all essential content to self-paced computer-..
Background: The Nursing Education Professional Development Team were challenged to limit new hire orientation to one in-person learning day and transition all essential content to self-paced computer-based modules. The Nursing Education Professional Development Team are accountable for supporting new hires to achieve established goals in the clinical setting with less time. Aim: New tools were needed to support new hires to validate the uptake of the essential content. The Nursing Education Professional Development Team reviewed innovative best practices to reinforce organizational education and orientation needs. Implementation Plan: The Nursing Education Professional Development Team redesigned the curriculum and created an “escape room” activity to validate performance. An escape room is an interactive teaching/learning gaming method to engage participants to work as a team, gathering clues, solving problems, and completing their escape. The plan included designing a self-assessment survey, facilitation strategies, and activities to test knowledge and demonstrate critical thinking, skill application, and documentation. Onboarding schedules included the two-hour escape room session to evaluate performance three weeks after hire. Each session opens with ground rules to create a safe learning environment with participation expectations and the pre-survey. Sessions are facilitated in groups of three to five nurses with varied experience. Debriefing follows to constructively summarize understanding and performance opportunities with post-survey. Outcomes: Over 12 months, 43 escape room sessions were facilitated with 113 new hires, with successful escapes averaging 48.4 minutes (range 33- 87). Confidence/competence increased by 19% on average. The escape room increases confidence and competence in new hires while improving application of knowledge and skills in the clinical setting. Implications for Practice: Escape rooms utilized for competency and nursing education can be modified based to meet organizational needs. An escape room can be applied to multiple specialties and focused education plans. Future escape rooms may be adapted to a virtual format.
Kingman K, Kirchen M, McManus M. Do your new nurses have what it takes to “escape”? Evidence Based Practice poster presentation at Empowering Nursing Excellence: Recognizing the Value and Impact of Nu..
Kingman K, Kirchen M, McManus M. Do your new nurses have what it takes to “escape”? Evidence Based Practice poster presentation at Empowering Nursing Excellence: Recognizing the Value and Impact of Nurses, Advocate Health Midwest Region Nursing Research & Professional Development Conference 2023; November 15, 2023; virtual.