Background: Optimal perioperative positioning for surgical procedures requires a compromise
between the anatomical exposure required for surgery and what the anesthetized patient can
tolerate structurally and physiologically. Anesthesia-related perioperative peripheral nerve
injuries are the second most common cause of anesthesia-related litigations and a significant
cause of physical disability. Incorporation of simulation-based education (SBE) on correct
positioning of surgical patients and prevention of perioperative peripheral nerve injuries (PPNIs)
early in the nurse anesthesia curriculum can help decrease position-related nerve injuries and
improve patient outcomes. Purpose: The goal of this project was to increase first-year nurse
anesthesia students’ knowledge and confidence on the correct positioning of anesthetized
patients and the prevention of PPNIs via SBE. Results: Descriptive statistics were used to
analyze the mean scores of pre- and post-intervention knowledge surveys and SET-M scores.
The mean for the pre- and post-knowledge surveys increased by 1.6000 (SD = ± 1.51658).
100% of the first-year GSRNAs scored at or above 2 (somewhat agree) on the learning and
confidence subscale questions on the SET-M evaluation questionnaire. Qualitative comments
reflected positive responses toward the simulation experience. Conclusions: The statistical data
reveal that the inclusion of SBE on correct positioning and PPNI was a great benefit to
increasing knowledge and confidence in the first-year nurse anesthesia students. The research
evidence presented within this project further supports SBE as an excellent medium to create
highly-relevant contexts where nurse anesthesia students are active participants in the learning
process, and repetitive hands-on experience increases their confidence.

Creator

• Natalya A. Kollektsionova, BSN, RN, GSRNA

Palavra-chave

• patient positioning

• simulation

• standardized patient

• anesthesia

• student registered nurse anesthetist

• peripheral nerve injury

Date created

• June 19, 2020

Rights statement

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/