Have you found that last time you needed a central line it took an hour to set up because no-one could find the equipment. Some bits were missing and you ended up going to theatres to get the kit instead? Or maybe during you last trauma no-one knew how to set up the rapid infuser? Handover hunts and equipment drills can help.

Think of a short scenario to orientate the hunt, such as a patient with:

• A pneumothorax (find a seldinger chest drain, underwater seal, sterile gown, and sterile water.
• Hypoglycaemia (find glucagon, hypostop, glucose machine)

Nominate a team leader, challenge the team to return with all the equipment as fast as possible. The team leader should delegate to team members who is going to find which item. Encouraging role allocation, team leadership and communication skills.

Once the team have all the equipment they explain to the group where they found it and whether there were any problems. A different team member must return the item so that two members know where it is stored.

you could mix this up by making it a scavenger hunt for a shared list of items and the winning team returns with all the items the fastest.

Alternatively try equipment drills to make your team familiar with the equipment and its setup. Who can set up your rapid infuser? Who can build a kendrick splint? If everyone can already who can do it the fastest? Your nurses may already be in teams, so why not divide the doctors amongst them, set up a score board and make it competitive!

Why do it?

1) Familiarises staff with the department and equipment
2) Encourages team working and communication
3) Micro-audits the department to make sure equipment is stocked and where it is meant to be
4) Identifies problems issues before they happen
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Give it a go next time you are on shift, and if you want more solutions for bringing high quality education into your workplace why not join us at #theEMEC 2020 on 22nd June in Birmingham. Tickets are available here.

Each time your staff learn something new or interesting write it on a post it and attach it to the wall in your doctors office, nurses station or another communal staff area. 

Then every week or month photograph or summarise the post it pearls and share them via email.

There are plenty of examples of others doing this online:

Michelle Lin on instagram

Core EM Blog

#POSTITPEARLs on twitter

Why do it?

1) Easy to share with all staff
2) Works on all shifts
3) Works with all levels of learner
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Give it a go next time you are on shift, and if you want more solutions for bringing high quality education into your workplace why not join us at #theEMEC 2020 on 22nd June in Birmingham. Tickets are available here.

See you on the 22nd June.

​Scott.