An Ergonomic Protocol for Patient Transfer That Can Be Successfully Taught Using Simulation Methods

O'Donnell, John M.; Goode, Joseph S.; Henker, Richard A.; Kelsey, Sheryl; Bircher, Nicholas; Peele, Pamela; Bradle, Judith; Engberg, Richard; Close, John; Sutton-Tyrrell, Kim

doi:10.1016/j.ecns.2010.05.003

« Previous Next »Clinical Simulation in Nursing
Volume 8, Issue 1 , Pages e3-e14, January 2012

An Ergonomic Protocol for Patient Transfer That Can Be Successfully Taught Using Simulation Methods

John M. O'Donnell, CRNA, MSN, DrPH
- University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- Winter Institute for Simulation, Education and Research, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Corresponding author
Joseph S. Goode Jr., CRNA, MSN
- University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
Richard A. Henker, CRNA, PhD
- University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
Sheryl Kelsey, PhD
- University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
Nicholas Bircher, MD
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
Pamela Peele, PhD
- University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- UPMC Health Plan, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
Judith Bradle, BA
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
Richard Engberg, BS
- University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
John Close, MA, PMSD
- University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
Kim Sutton-Tyrrell, RN, DrPH
- University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA

published online 04 October 2010.

Abstract

Introduction

Nursing personnel injury related to patient transfer is epidemic, and reduction of injury rates is a national priority. Hierarchical task analysis (HTA) was chosen to address this issue.

Method

HTA methods were used to create an optimum task set and protocol which consisted of Internet-based education, simulation practice, and debriefing. Participants (N = 71) were randomly assigned to teams to perform simulated transfers. Pre- to postintervention transfer success was evaluated by ergonomic experts.

Results

Each team improved significantly from pre- to postintervention (N = 19), with every protocol step demonstrating improvement (N = 10). Interrater reliability of the evaluation instrument was calculated (.43–.83).