Improving the ability of nursing students in neonatal resuscitation by using the Helping Babies Breathe Program: A quasi-experimental study

Abstract

Background: Nursing graduates must have sufficient skills to perform adequately in newborn resuscitations. New nurses should be provided with appropriate situations in order to practice the necessary skills required during a newborn resuscitation. This study aimed to improve the performance of nursing students during neonatal resuscitations through the use of a Helping Babies Breathe Program. Methods: This quasi-experimental study with a control group (simulator with low similarity) and an interventional group (Helping Babies Breathe Program) was conducted on 84 eighth-semester nursing students studying at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran. A resuscitation workshop was held for a single day for 5 h with students performing standard practices for each step of the resuscitation. Knowledge and skills of students were assessed using two scenarios and a standardized checklist. Results: The mean score of knowledge and basic neonatal resuscitation skills were significantly different between the two groups before and immediately after training, as well as Post-Internship (p < 0.05). The highest score of knowledge (17.38) belonged to the intervention group. Appropriate skills are critically important when performing bag-valve-mask ventilation. Before the intervention occurred, students in the interventional group obtained the lowest scores in resuscitation skills; however, after the intervention, all interventional group students obtained a full score and demonstrated the necessary skills required for effective newborn resuscitations. Conclusion: Resuscitation training through the use of a high-similarity simulator was significantly more effective than utilizing a low-similarity simulator when performing basic neonatal resuscitation. © 2022