Title: Sickle cell disease nursing train the trainer bootcamp
Abstract:
Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most prevalent hemoglobinopathy, affecting millions worldwide. With specialized training, nurses can significantly improve the health outcomes of people with SCD. However, education in nursing schools on SCD is scarce to non-existent, leading to gaps in treatment and patient care. To help bridge this gap, we developed a 5-day Sickle Cell Boot Camp to Promote Nursing Excellence, providing nurses nationwide and globally the unique opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills from expert instructors in both pediatric and adult SCD care.
Methods: SCD nurse experts worked together to create a comprehensive curriculum focused on theory and clinical skills, incorporating fundamental aspects of nursing education, including evidence-based practice, clinical skills, attitudes, and values. Curriculum and clinical SCD experts peer-reviewed the curriculum, with revisions made accordingly. After the inaugural boot camp in 2022, the curriculum evolved into a Train the Trainer Model. This model equips nurses with the knowledge and clinical skills needed to provide high-quality care to people with SCD. Additionally, it enhances the bootcamp’s impact by providing nurses with the tools and resources needed to teach others within their departments or institution. Participants completed a comprehensive program evaluation at the end of each day.
Results: Four boot camps have been conducted since 2022, with 110 national and international participants successfully completing the program. A pre/post-knowledge assessment demonstrated statistically significant knowledge improvement ( p = .002) when using a paired t-test. Results, categorized by topic taught and learning objectives, revealed participants either strongly agreed or agreed that the learning objectives were achieved, and open-ended participant comments were incredibly positive. Follow up phone interviews with participants who completed the boot camps using the Train the Trainer Model are underway to determine how participants provided SCD education within their institution. Some of the results thus far include the following initiatives: SCD presentations to staff, media interviews to increase awareness, policy updates, education team created to disseminate SCD information, local news coverage, SCD lunch and learn events, SCD education added to nursing orientation, referrals for children to receive TCD screening, new positions created focused on SCD, presentations at local and national conferences, SCD curriculum implemented in nursing schools, SCD newsletter for nursing staff, and some bootcamp participants deciding to pursue advanced degrees to better serve SCD patients.
Conclusion: The boot camps provide critical education across the lifespan of people with SCD, whose lives often depend on nurses’ ability to provide quality care, detect early symptoms of life-threatening complications, and take prompt action. Nurses completing the Sickle Cell Boot Camp to Promote Nursing Excellence: Train the Trainer Model can share this knowledge and amplify the impact of the training far beyond the week-long bootcamp.
