Ideas That Work: In-Service Idea

As a clinical educator, I focus on three major components of airway management competency: knowledge, skill and attitude. We've added validation and verifications of hands-on skills and attitude through simulation training to make sure staff grasp the basics of this critical aspect of patient care. Here's how it works:

• Knowledge. Staff provide their baseline understanding of airway management by completing pre-training surveys on iPads. They then receive a packet with illustrations and theories behind proper airway management.
• Skill. Staff are observed inserting nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal airways on a mannequin during training based on actual clinical scenarios.
• Attitude. Staff answer questions during a skill validation session to verify the importance they place on airway management. They verbalize what they're doing during specific airway tasks and what to look for when performing them.

The feedback from our staff has been overwhelmingly positive regarding this in-service. They find the format fun and stress-free, and enjoy the hands-on, interactive training. This new approach has allowed me to gain a better understanding of our staff's skill level, their true competency and their comfort level with airway management.

Julie Castillo, MSN, RN, CPAN
PIH Health Downey (Calif.) Hospital
[email protected]