The impact of rapid cycle simulation deliberate practice on nursing student's resuscitation self-efficacy: A quasi-experimental study.

Background: Nursing students often report anxiety about the performance of resuscitation in a placement context. Rapid cycle deliberate practice which involves re-running the scenario after de-brief allowing for the correction of errors and improved practice has been widely used to develop skills in resuscitation. Few studies have examined the use of rapid cycle deliberate practice to improve resuscitation confidence and self-efficacy.

Objective: to assess if rapid cycle deliberate practice leads to improvements in resuscitation self-efficacy in pre-registration nursing students.

Design: Quasi-experimental pre and post-test design measuring self-efficacy using the Basic Resuscitation Skills - Self Efficacy Scale.

Setting: University, United Kingdom.

Participants: Students were invited to participate (n = 120) and 106 consented to take part in the study. Participants were in pre-determined practical groups with 56 in the experimental group and 50 in the control group.

Methods: A pre and post-test of nursing students' self-efficacy during a resuscitation simulation scenario. The scenario will relate to a patient admitted to the emergency room with chest pain who then goes into cardiac arrest. The control group undertake the simulation exercise and then received a de-brief whereas the experimental group participated in a rerun of the scenario following the de-brief (deliberate practice). Both groups completed the Basic Resuscitation Skills Self-efficacy scale pre and post the session. Data were analysed using a paired sample t-test.

Results: Both groups showed improved self-efficacy as a result of the simulation session. The difference in the post-test mean scores between the control and the experimental group was marginal and not statistically significant.

Conclusion: rapid cycle deliberate practice simulation does not lead to improved resuscitation self-efficacy amongst pre-registration nursing students when compared with a single session.

Abstract: Nursing students are often anxious about performing resuscitation in practice. Can rapid cycle deliberate practice improve resuscitation self-efficacy? Pre and post-test study (n=106) showed improved self-efficacy with no statistical difference between standard simulation and deliberate practice.