Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory
- Learning is a continuous cycle: concrete experience —> reflection —> conceptualization —> application
- Individuals process their experiences differently, resulting in different learning styles
- In the emergency department, critical events serve as the concrete experience, while post-critical event debriefing supports reflective observation
I would like to thank:
Rochester Christian University
Professor Amy Guitar
Dr. Megan Hogue
Professor Jennifer Robinson
Gail Vanstanton
Scan below for references
Databases: CINAHL, Google Scholar, PubMed, Rochester Ham Library
Keywords: Emergency Department, debriefing, emergency critical events, critical-event debriefing, nurse well-being, and debriefing form
Sample: Emergency department nurses
Independent variable: Education on post-critical event debriefing and the proper utilization of the standardized debriefing form
Dependent variable: Nurses confidence, knowledge, and participation in post-critical event debriefing
The Pause That Heals: Strengthening Emergency Teams Through Post-Critical Event Debriefing
Makayla Pasternak | Nursing, Rochester Christian University
Sponsor: Professor Amy Guitar
- Data was collected utilizing the Grundy’s C-scale which was given to nurses in the Emergency Department to assess their level of confidence participating in a debriefing session
- Nurses were provided with a pre- and post-survey to measure their confidence and willingness to participate in debriefing after the educational session
- Three additional open-ended questions were provided
- Which aspects of critical-event debriefing do you feel most confident in?
- How do team dynamics influence your experience during debriefing?
- Is there anything else you would like to share about your experience with post-critical event debriefing?
- Support nurses well-being long-term: Debriefing can help nurses reduce stress related burnout and process their emotions
- Improve team-based communication: With continuous use of debriefing sessions, this can help strengthen team-based collaboration, leading to more effective teamwork
- Enhance patient safety: Strengthening communication and a more team-based mindset may lead to better clinical decision making and better overall patient outcomes when events are discussed and talked through
- Implementing a structured post-critical event debriefing session addresses any gaps in practice by providing nurses with support, reflection, and opportunities for learning
- This is a low-cost, sustainable intervention has the potential to enhance nurse support, team communication, and improve the quality and safety of care for patients
- Emergency nurses would be provided with the ability to participate in debriefing sessions with the knowledge on how to properly utilize a debriefing tool
How does implementing an educational intervention on post-critical event debriefing session utilizing a standardized debriefing form, compared to no education affect emergency department nurses’ confidence, team-based communication, and willingness to participate in debriefing over a 14-week preceptorship?
P: Emergency department nurses
I: Educational intervention on post-critical event debriefing using a standardized debriefing form
C: No educational intervention
O: Improved nurses confidence, team-based communication, and participation in debriefing sessions
T: 14 weeks
- Providing structured debriefing opportunities allowing for reflection after critical events can help nurses better process these difficult experiences and strengthen the team overall.
- Absent debriefing after critical events reduces opportunities for emotional processing team communication, and performance improvement.
- Implementing post-critical event debriefing sessions can provide a safe space for reflection, improve teamwork, and enhance nurses emotional well-being while reducing stress
- Improve emergency department nurses knowledge on critical-event debriefing and how to utilize the debriefing form
- Enhance team-based communication in the emergency department after a critical event
- Increase emergency nurses engagement, confidence, and participation in structured debriefing sessions
- Promote consistent implementation of post-critical event debriefing to improve nurses well-being and patient safety
- A roughy 30-minute educational session with Emergency Department nurses on post-critical event debriefing
- The session will include an overview of the purpose and evidence that supports debriefing, appropriate timing, and proper utilization of the debriefing form.
- The educational session will include topics discussed in debriefing: What event occurred and the events that followed, what went well, areas for improvement, check on all participants emotions, provide education, and hand out potential resources for support if needed
Scan this QR code to view the
standardized debriefing form