Abstract
ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The emergence of neuroscience intensive care units (NSICUs) for the past decades has led to growing interest in targeted training for NSICU nurses. We sought to evaluate the use of video instruction on NSICU nurses' skills in case presentations and neurological examinations, which has timely advantages as an asynchronous and distanced learning modality. METHODS: We enrolled NSICU and surgical intensive care unit nurses who took shifts in the NSICU at our institution. Participants were observed by a neurocritical care attending physician presenting the clinical details of an admitted patient and conducting a neurological examination, with both parties completing a 10-item evaluation on NSICU nursing presentation and examination skills. Participants randomized to an intervention group were given access to an instructional video on NSICU nursing skills. A median of 21 days later, participants were observed by a physician blinded to study randomization, with both parties recompleting the evaluation. Differences between day 1 and day 21 scores were analyzed using paired sample t tests. RESULTS: Fifteen NSICU and 55 surgical intensive care unit nurses were enrolled. Surgical intensive care unit nurses in both the intervention and control groups had statistically significant improvement between day 1 and day 21 physician-rated scores, with a greater increase in the intervention group; self-rated scores did not change. For NSICU nurses, there were no differences in physician-rated or self-rated scores for either group. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical intensive care unit nurses who underwent direct observation and self-evaluation had improvement in physician-rated NSICU nursing skills, likely as these activities allowed for reflective observation in Kolb's experiential learning cycle. Greater improvement in participants who viewed an instructional video highlights its value as a teaching modality for nurses.