Abstract WP187: Neurons, Knots, and Knowledge: Escaping Stroke Alerts and Comprehensive Care

Knowledge is power. In stroke care, the continuum includes emergency response (Code CVA), acute admission, and discharge planning. Escape rooms in nursing offer experiential learning opportunities that simulate real clinical scenarios. Escape rooms that encompass the focused care in each of these stages can develop specific competencies enhancing nurses’ critical thinking, clinical judgement, and confidence. Lack of confidence in assessment skills, stroke symptom recognition, and prioritization of tasks can unfortunately cause a delay in treatment. Education and empowerment through simulated clinical experiences offer knowledge and improved confidence in acute stroke care. The Code CVA scenario includes rapid recognition of stroke symptoms, initiation of the stroke protocol, and prioritization of tasks under time pressure. The admission scenario includes comprehensive assessment, interventions for stroke-related complications, and collaborating with a simulated care team. The discharge scenario includes educating patients and families on stroke signs and lifestyle modifications. In a pre- and post-escape room poll, it showed up to a 39% increase in confidence and up to 35% increase in knowledge of protocol, priority and safety when a stroke alert, stroke admission or stroke discharge takes place through targeted questions. The utilization of escape room simulations tailored to different phases of stroke care provides a comprehensive and layered educational experience. Each scenario targets distinct competencies, allowing nurses to develop and reinforce critical knowledge, clinical reasoning, and confidence appropriate to their role in the stroke care continuum. This method enhances retention, promotes engagement, and fosters readiness to deliver high-quality stroke care across all stages of the patient journey. By engaging in all three types of escape rooms, nurses gain a comprehensive understanding of stroke care from critical emergency response to safe and effective discharge planning which increases their confidence in the care they provide. Utilizing active learning strategies like escape rooms ensures that nurses are equipped to respond quickly and effectively which in turn can save lives and preserve brain function.