Ross Heart Hospital Nurse Training Reduces Stress Of Temporary Pacemaker Adjustment

 

Organization: Ross Heart Hospital
HESS Components Used: Pacemaker Adjustment Simulator
Other Platforms Utilized: TV Monitor

The Story:

 

Karen Prenger, MS, RN, APRN-CNS, CV-BC, CPHQ, CCNS is a Clinical Nurse Specialist at The Richard M Ross Heart Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. With over three decades of cardiac/vascular experience Karen knows that one of the most intimidating pieces of equipment in hospitals is a temporary pacemaker - and that working with one on a live patient can be stressful.

To help address the situation Karen and Sheila Chucta, DNP, RN, CCRN, CNS run a monthly Temporary Pacemaker Management course for ICU/PCU nurses, NPs and PAs. As it does in so many other nursing education situations, the HESS serves as a key instructional aide within the course. Specifically, the HESS Pacemaker Adjustment Simulator app provides both engaging classroom lecture visuals as well as "hands-on" active learning elements.

In the lecture portion of the course the learners receive instruction about the steps in the threshold testing process which includes finding and setting sensing and pacing thresholds. The HESS provides visual reinforcement on the classroom monitor.

Then, the learners have the opportunity to get some "hands-on" active learning practice and do things themselves using the HESS tablets - while the instructor controls the cardiac electrophysiology (p wave, r wave height, etc.) of the "patient" to represent a variety of situations and challenges. The learners gain familiarity from being able to actually "do things" - while they can see on the EKG waveform the cardiac response to their control adjustments.

Karen reports that the learners come out feeling more comfortable and less stressed about approaching a temporary pacemaker adjustment. She is finding that they are no longer afraid of the temporary pacemaker and understand better how to work with one without harming the patient.

Thanks Karen! Thanks Sheila! For "setting the pace"....