Enhancing Knowledge and Retention of Infant Safe Sleep Practices With Simulation

Sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) continues to occur in the United States despite recommendations made by key organizations' establishment of infant safe sleep practices based on best evidence. These recommendations have been well publicized through a long standing national “Back to Sleep” campaign and in contemporary literature. In addition, traditional educational tools, including videos, reading materials, webinars, etc., have been used to provide healthcare personnel, i.e. nursing staff, with these evidenced-based recommendations. Yet, many nurses providing care for infants in the inpatient setting often allow inappropriate caregiver behaviors to occur that do not align with a safe sleep environment. Education in the inpatient setting is a critical and key opportunity for nurses to address learning needs of the caregiver. This situation gives the nurse the opportunity to model appropriate behaviors, answer questions, and reinforce best practices. Understanding that nursing personnel are vital members of the healthcare team to provide key education, it is imperative that nurses acquire the necessary skillset (cognitive, behavioral, and psychomotor skills) to communicate effectively with caregivers and fellow staff members and to demonstrate infant safe sleep practices in the inpatient setting. It is important that nursing students and new nursing graduates are equipped with the knowledge and communication skills as well to interact with caregivers and other, often more experienced, members of the healthcare team. Educating nursing students about infant safe sleep practices during their formal education and training may offer an advantage as these students progress post licensure into the workplace. Simulation-based learning has emerged as an effective method in healthcare and nursing education. This modality of teaching allows for the learner to demonstrate cognitive knowledge and skills performance. The simulation environment gives the participant the opportunity to react in a real-time scenario using critical thinking skills and it allows for the development of new and effective competencies in the healthcare environment. Also of benefit, and a part of simulation, is the debriefing stage of simulation-based learning. This phase allows for the learner to expand upon ideas and further enrich and reinforce appropriate and effective behaviors and knowledge. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the use of a simulation experience as an effective tool to teach nursing students about safe sleep practices and the importance of establishing a safe sleep environment in the inpatient setting.