title: Code Carnivals: resuscitating Code Blue training with accelerated learning.
abstract: Nurses in the hospital setting must be knowledgeable about resuscitation procedures and proficient in the delivery of care during an emergency. They must be ready to implement their knowledge and skills at a moment's notice. A common dilemma for many nurses is that cardiopulmonary emergencies (Code Blues) are infrequent occurrences. Therefore, how do nurses remain competent and confident in their implementation of emergency skills while having limited exposure to the equipment and minimal experience in emergency situations? A team of nurse educators at a regional medical center in Washington State applied adult learning theory and accelerated learning techniques to develop and present a series of learning activities to enhance the staff's familiarity with emergency equipment and procedures. The series began with a carnival venue that provided hands-on practice and review of emergency skills and was reinforced with subsequent random unannounced code drills led by both educators and charge nurses.
authors.affiliation: PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center, 1615 Delaware Avenue, Longview, WA 98632, USA.
authors.forename: Vicky A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Keys
authors.forename: Peggy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Malone
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brim
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schoonover
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nordstrom
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Selzler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000193:education* / Q000451:nursing; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D004630:Emergencies / Q000451:nursing; D006277:Health Fairs; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods*; D008348:Manikins; D017145:Models, Educational; D016294:Models, Nursing; D008960:Models, Psychological; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D011588:Psychology, Educational; D014861:Washington