title: Five alive: using mock code simulation to improve responder performance during the first 5 minutes of a code.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article reviews the institution of mock code simulation training to improve registered nurses responder performance at a trauma 1 teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  An in-situ mock code is held on random medical-surgical/telemetry units every month. Participants are asked to respond to 2 different scenarios using a 3-G Sim Man and the unit's emergency equipment. Each session is followed by debriefing, postsurveys, and evaluation. The time to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation is recorded for analysis. The participant's level of confidence is measured before and after simulation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than 250 nurses have participated in the Five Alive course since its initiation in March 2011. The participants have expressed more confidence in recognizing a declining patient health status after the simulation. They have also demonstrated a marked improvement in time to CPR and defibrillation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Initial findings reveal that in-situ medical emergency team/code simulation followed by debriefing improved the performance of responders. We are currently offering the Five Alive program monthly during four 1-hour sessions and have found this program to be an effective training tool. There is one challenge to offering the program on the off shift and weekends. That is finding a time that is not too disruptive to patient care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Professional Practice, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212, USA. kdelac@wpahs.org
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Delac
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Blazier
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.forename: Donamarie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: N-Wilfong
mesh_terms: D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000193:education*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004554:Electric Countershock; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016544:Patient Simulation; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013997:Time Factors