Educational Strategies for Maintaining Technical Skills in Neonatal Resuscitation for the Nursing Team: A Pilot Project

Background :

Despite efforts for initial training in neonatal resuscitation (NR), health professionals show a decline in post-training skills, requiring continuing training. Lack of practice, financial resources and competent worker are the main challenges encountered on the department. However, optimal care in NR, particularly in positive pressure ventilation (PPV) saves lives. Deliberate practice (DP) is a simulation-based instructional strategy known for its effectiveness in maintaining skills. However, DP is limited by the resources and costs linked to the presence of experts. Self-directed, learner-centred approaches could solve these challenges.

This pilot study seeks to compare the proposed tool with a traditional method which is learning through PD guided by an instructor. This feasibility study will make it possible in the future to plan more in-depth research to promote the possibility of generalization.

Th specific research objectives are as follows.

• The primary objective is to document the feasibility of implementing the proposed educational tool in order to maintain technical skills in VPP among practising nurses by comparing it to the traditional method. Feasibility measures include participant satisfaction with the quality of the teaching method, speed of participant recruitment, and participant participation and retention rate.
• The secondary objective is to evaluate whether the participants' confidence in VPP, the propensity to change one's own practice as well as the performance of VPP in the experimental group is similar to the traditional group.