PC7 - Application of Stress First Aid for Healthcare Workers in a Clinical Simulation and Education Environment

Abstract: Intro: The health professions continue to respond remarkably well after the pressures of a global pandemic. Notwithstanding, the effects of stress are leaving a moral residue on our community. The purpose of the workshop is to train Stress First Aid for Healthcare Workers (SFA) to all those involved in simulation to operationalize psychological safety.
Framework: SFA was adapted from the work of Hobfoll (2007) operationalizing his 5 Essential Human Needs Model (e.g., promotion of safety, calming, self & community efficacy, connectedness, and hope).

Methods: This evidence based, mental illness prevention measure was designed to provide a set of practical skills to leverage peer support in response to stress related injury and illness. SFA is conceptualized as a basic life support (BLS) for stress that capitalizes on peer support to challenge members of the community to take action when we they encounter someone experiencing emotional distress that may occur anywhere in the learning environment.

Results: The goal of SFA is to preserve life, prevent further harm and promote recovery. Upon completion of this workshop, participants will learn the 3 foundational elements of stress first aid (e.g., stress continuum, 4 sources of orange zone stress and the stress first aid model) and discussion about utility in simulation during day-to-day operations.

Conclusion: Those in simulation need to actively manage the milieu to help students meet learning objectives. Utilizing SFA helps to provide a universal language set and shared mental model about how we establish, maintain and fortify psychological safety within our learning environments.

Please include a short summary of your presentation that highlights why an attendee would want to participate in your session.: This workshop is open to all learners who would like to learn about Stress First Aid (SFA) for the Healthcare Worker and how it can be applied to the simulation environment. SFA is a basic life support (BLS) for stress initiative and its toolkit gives one instruction on how to perform a timely safety assessment and response when they suspect someone with psychological stress injury with the goal of preserving life, preventing further harm, and promoting recovery.