Phuong Vo, MSN, RN, OCN, MEDSURG-BC, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, discusses the development of a high-fidelity simulation program designed to prepare newly hired infusion nurses for managing hypersensitivity reactions. The program focused on improving clinical competency, critical thinking, and timely intervention in managing infusion-related adverse events.

Transcript:

My name is Phuong Vo, and I'm an infusion nurse at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts. I had the privilege to present my project at ONS Conquest 2025 in Denver, Colorado this past month. My project is about implementing a high-fidelity simulation for newly hired infusion nurses to educate them about hypersensitivity reaction management.

At Dana-Farber, we administer a lot of different oncology therapies, and all the treatments that we give to patients have a high risk for hypersensitivity reaction. We do have an institute-provided algorithm to help nurses make decisions in this emergent situation, but in the event of hypersensitivity reaction, nurses may feel overwhelmed and unable to decide and follow the algorithm appropriately. The institute does have an online learning module to help nurses familiarize themselves with the process, but everyone learns differently. I believe the skills will be best learned when people actively participate in this situation.

I collaborated with the nursing education team at my institute to develop an evidence-based high-fidelity simulation about hypersensitivity reaction management. My targeted population was newly-hired infusion nurses. When nurses first start at a new employment place, they might be unfamiliar with the algorithm. They might be a little scared and not prepared in an emergent situation, so that's my targeted population.

Infusion nurses that were hired within the past 6 months at the main campus, which is the Boston campus, were invited to join a simulation depicting a patient undergoing a hypersensitivity reaction during a chemotherapy infusion. I was able to offer the simulation twice and 6 infusion nurses were able to participate. Prior to the simulation, they were provided with the algorithm for review. After participating in the simulation, they completed a debriefing discussion and also filled out a survey to rate themselves in terms of comfort and knowledge change after they participated in the session.

As a result, 50% of participating nurses show an increase in the rate of confidence in detecting signs and symptoms of a hypersensitivity reaction, and they were able to apply the institutional algorithm in the management of this event. 67% of all participants show an increase in confidence levels in prioritizing interventions for hypersensitivity reaction management, and 100% of the nurses enjoyed the simulation. They agreed it would be a valuable use of their time and for practicing any further skills in terms of oncology nursing skills.

I believe high-fidelity simulation was an effective educational activity for nurses to practice skills, increase their confidence, and also increase their knowledge level. High-fidelity simulations should be utilized more often in other settings, not just oncology nursing, but also in other skills that nurses can practice and improve their confidence and knowledge.

Source:

Vo P. Impact of a Simulation-Based Training for Infusion-Related Hypersensitivity. Presented at Oncology Nursing Society Congress; April 9-13, 2025. Denver, CO.