NURSING INTERVENTIONS FOR INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL: FOCUS ON DROPLET INFECTION A Simulation Scenario for Savonia University of Applied Sciences

The awareness of infection prevention and control has risen in the recent one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic spreading around the whole world. The pandemic was firstly outbreaking at the beginning of 2020, until today it is an ongoing global infectious disease with highly variable symptoms from none to life-threatening. The transmission of COVID-19 is mainly through the droplets from person to person. The virus is transmitted through the respiratory route by coughing, sneezing, singing, talking or breathing. To prevent and control the transmission of COVID-19, WHO and CDC strongly recommend utilizing the droplet precautions in the healthcare settings. It is important that nursing students are to be educated with the droplet precautions in case of meeting the patients who have droplet transmissible diseases. This simulation practice is a safe and realistic way for nursing students to practice droplet precautions measures, decision-making and interactions when taking care of the patient with suspected COVID-19. The purpose of this thesis was to produce a simulation scenario on infection prevention and control for Savonia University of Applied Sciences. The thesis aims to improve and enhance nurse students’ knowledge of and competence in infection prevention and control through this created simulation scenario, especially on the droplet transmissible infection control. Qualitative feedback on the simulation scenario from two groups of nursing students at Savonia was collected and analyzed to help to improve the simulation scenario design. The simulation was piloted with the first year and second year international students (29) at Savonia. According to the written feedback from the students, the simulation increased their knowledge of donning and doffing the PPE of droplet precautions. In addition, they had better understand of taking care of a patient who has the anxiety for COVID-19 and shortness of breath. Most of the students mentioned that simulation was necessary in infection prevention and control. The supervisors of this thesis who were attending and observing the pilot tests gave comments that the simulation scenario was comprehensive for treatment of a COVID-19 case, it can be used in Finland and in many other countries. The objectives of the simulation are realistic and accessible in the simulation. The production of this development work is a demonstrative scenario of learning and practicing the droplet precautions on donning and doffing PPE, vital signs measurement for the patient with dyspnea, decision-making skills and communication skills between nurses and the patient. In future, a pre-course about droplet precautions and nursing interventions on dyspnea can be planned before this scenario-based simulation. In addition, the simulation could be developed and practiced in different countries in the healthcare settings. The scenario can be adapted and developed for health care personnel from wide range disciplines such as paramedics, mental health, pediatric nursing and radiography for their continuous education. However, no matter how the patient case is to be adapted, the original learning objectives for this scenario-based simulation should not be changed