OR Circulator AHN pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Disclosure(s):
Rhiannon M. Beseny, RN MSN CNOR: No financial relationships to disclose
Angela Rump, RN, BSN, CNOR: No financial relationships to disclose
Description: Description of team Our team is composed of two experienced operating room (OR) nurses who share a strong passion for teaching and supporting the growth of new nurses. Recognizing the challenges that new staff face when transitioning into the high-stakes environment of the OR, we set out to improve the orientation process by making it more engaging, interactive, and effective.
Preparation and planning To achieve this, we have used a customizable escape room app that allows us to design immersive, scenario-based learning experiences. The app enables us to create digital escape rooms tailored specifically to our OR protocols, equipment, safety standards, and communication practices. Each "room" presents new nurses with realistic challenges that require them to apply critical thinking, demonstrate knowledge of surgical procedures, and work collaboratively- mirroring real-life pressures and decision-making in the OR. Through this approach, our goal is to: Reinforce key OR concepts in a memorable and interactive format Encourage problem-solving Provide a safe environment for practicing decision-making Improve knowledge retention and confidence in new nurses
Assessment Before implementing the escape room as a tool in our OR orientation, we began by evaluating the effectiveness of previous uses of escape rooms in educational settings within our department. We gathered feedback from past participants and educators who had utilized escape room activities in skills fairs and competency validations. This feedback focused on learner engagement, retention of information, and perceived relevance to clinical practice. The results were encouraging- participants consistently reported high levels of enjoyment, increased collaboration, and better recall of critical concepts. Building on this positive feedback, we turned our attention to our existing orientation manual for new OR nurses. We conducted a thorough review of the manual's content and structure to identify opportunities for innovation. Our goal was to maintain the integrity of the required information while reimagining the delivery to enhance learning. This approach allowed us to thoughtfully integrate essential orientation topics into a gamified format without losing educational value. By aligning the escape room content with existing orientation goals and assessing it against known best practices in adult learning, we ensured the activity would be both fun and functional for our new OR team members
Implementation Two brand-new nurses who had no prior OR experience were used to test the process. The app included 62 missions covering key orientation topics through a mix of questions, images, and hands-on tasks. For practical skills, preceptors recorded video as the nurses completed each activity. One nurse completed all missions during the initial orientation period, while the other returned to the app later to finish- demonstrating the app's flexibility and ability to support self-paced learning.
Outcome Initial feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive, with one of the new nurses reporting increased engagement and a greater sense of preparedness for OR duties. This initiative reflects our commitment to continuous improvement in clinical education and to fostering a supportive, dynamic learning environment for every new member of our surgical team Implications for perioperative nursing
