title: Nursing intensive care skills training: a nurse led, short, structured, and practical training program, developed and tested in a resource-limited setting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the impact of a nurse-led, short, structured training program for intensive care unit (ICU) nurses in a resource-limited setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  A training program using a structured approach to patient assessment and management for ICU nurses was designed and delivered by local nurse tutors in partnership with overseas nurse trainers. The impact of the course was assessed using the following: pre-course and post-course self-assessment, a pre-course and post-course Multiple Choice Questionnaire (MCQ), a post-course Objective Structured Clinical Assessment station, 2 post-course Short Oral Exam (SOE) stations, and post-course feedback questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 117 ICU nurses were trained. Post-MCQ scores were significantly higher when compared with pre-MCQ (P < .0001). More than 95% passed the post-course Objective Structured Clinical Assessment (patient assessment) and SOE 1 (arterial blood gas analysis), whereas 76.9% passed SOE 2 (3-lead electrocardiogram analysis). The course was highly rated by participants, with 98% believing that this was a useful experience.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nursing Intensive Care Skills Training was highly rated by participants and was effective in improving the knowledge of the participants. This sustainable short course model may be adaptable to other resource-limited settings.
authors.affiliation: National Intensive Care Surveillance, Quality Secretariat Building, Castle Street Hospital for Women, Colombo, Sri Lanka; Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: A Pubudu
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: De Silva
authors.affiliation: Simulation and Essential Clinical Skills Department, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.affiliation: Critical Care Department, University College Hospitals Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Welch
authors.affiliation: National Intensive Care Surveillance, Quality Secretariat Building, Castle Street Hospital for Women, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Chathurani
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sigera
authors.affiliation: Office of Deputy Director General (Education, Training and Research), Ministry of Health, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Alwis
authors.affiliation: National Intensive Care Surveillance, Quality Secretariat Building, Castle Street Hospital for Women, Colombo, Sri Lanka; Office of Director Tertiary Care Health, Ministry of Health, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Priyantha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Athapattu
authors.affiliation: Office of Deputy Director General (Education, Training and Research), Ministry of Health, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Dilantha
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dharmagunawardene
authors.affiliation: Medical Education Development and Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Asela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olupeliyawa
authors.affiliation: Medical Education Development and Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Ashwini
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Abrew
authors.affiliation: Post Basic College of Nursing, Ministry of Health, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Lalitha
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peiris
authors.affiliation: Office of Deputy Director General (Education, Training and Research), Ministry of Health, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Somalatha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siriwardana
authors.affiliation: Medical Education Development and Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Indika
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Karunathilake
authors.affiliation: Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Arjen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dondorp
authors.affiliation: National Intensive Care Surveillance, Quality Secretariat Building, Castle Street Hospital for Women, Colombo, Sri Lanka; Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Bangkok, Thailand; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Electronic address: rashan@nicslk.com.
authors.forename: Rashan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haniffa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D064648:Critical Care Nursing / Q000193:education*; D003479:Curriculum; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008875:Middle Aged; D013188:Sri Lanka; D013192:Staff Development; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Developing countries; Intensive care nursing; Knowledge; Resource-limited settings; Skills; Training