Background Following implementation of the Outpatient Intravenous Antibiotic Program (OIVAP) clinic in the outpatient department (OPD), nurses were dealing with more patients receiving long-term intravenous antibiotic therapy via a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line. Only 20% of 150 OPD nurses were competently managing these patients. However, because of staffing issues and increased demand, more nurses were required to cover this clinic. This presented a challenge because most nurses had not performed this skill before. A simulation-based educational workshop was conducted by the Nursing Education Department to fill this gap. Simulation training has a well-known history in military and aviation industries, but is relatively new to nursing practice. The hospitals’ Nursing Departmental policy on educational requirements requires nurses to perform annual competencies for skills that are likely to cause significant patient harm if done incorrectly, calling for nurses to keep their knowledge and skills valid. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the simulation-based training program on the knowledge and skills of OPD nurses.

Methods 13 workshops were conducted for 109 participants over a period of 3 weeks. A pre-assessment knowledge questionnaire was distributed. The workshop covered theory and practical demonstrations using a central line simulator model, in a simulated clinical environment. A post-assessment knowledge questionnaire was then distributed for comparison.

Results Out of those sampled, the pre-assessment results showed that 78% had not performed the procedure of administering intravenous drug therapy via a PICC line at all. The mean knowledge scale was 0 out of 7, which indicated that their knowledge about the procedure was better than their practical experience. Post-assessment results indicated that 67.8% felt confident to perform the procedure in an actual clinical environment.

Conclusion Simulation-based educational interventions are an effective way to address skills gaps where large numbers of nurses need to be trained while minimizing the chances of patient harm. More confident nurses ease the burden on staffing levels ensuring more referrals. This gives an opportunity for fewer hospital admissions for procedures that can be safely done in an outpatient environment. Above all, patients are safe when nurses are confident in their car.