Presenting Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) to nurses using

Emotional Intelligence

Theodore A. Pettinicchi, MSN, RN-BCTheodore A. Pettinicchi, MSN, RN-BCWalden UniversityWalden University

Objectives

• Participants will be able to describe emotional intelligence

• Participants will be able to state the importance of learning in the affective domain

• Participants will be able to list two ways to apply emotional intelligence to teaching

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Introduction

In this presentation, we will be discussing incorporating Emotional Intelligence (EI) into teaching the American Heart Association’s Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) course to nurses who have never had the course before.

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Introduction What do you think emotional intelligence is?

Is it emotional learning? Learning about emotions?

Should you employ teaching methods which address learners’ emotions?

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Introduction

• Definition: what is emotional intelligence (EI)?– According to Daniel Goleman’s model of emotional

intelligence, it consists of five major components:

– Knowing one’s own emotions (self-awareness)– Managing these emotions (self-regulation)– Self-motivation (learning because I want to)– Recognizing emotions in others (social awareness)– Handling relationships (social skills)

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Introduction

• What does EI mean to the adult learner?– Address adult learning needs based on EI– self-awareness: understanding of one's strengths, weaknesses,

emotions, needs and drives

– self-regulation: impulse and behavior control

– self motivation: achieve for intrinsic reasons

– social awareness: empathy

– social skills: proficiency in managing relationships; conflict management; rapport

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Introduction

• Experiences are “colored” or “flavored” with emotions

• A strong emotion can be connected to an experience and evoke it again when a similar experience occurs Reeves (2005)

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Introduction

Reeves (2005) also points out that situational stress can undermine decision-making, concentration, and recall, which can lead to an increase in errors.

The physiology behind this is that the emotion center of the brain, the amygdala, can override higher, cognitive thinking and interfere with performance. This is likely from where test anxiety arises.

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Learning in the affective domain• We give much attention to learning in the cognitive

domain: “Certain drugs can promote ion ‘set up’ in the myocardium”

• And, to learning in the psychomotor domain: “I am correctly redemonstrating cardiac compressions”

• We need to teach more to the affective domain: “I am excited that I know what to do for a patient

during a resuscitation”

Learning in the affective domain• Adults learn on an “importance scale”: why do I

need to learn this? Learning needs to be meaningful and have value

• Affective learning adds meaning to the content learned

• Adults construct their own meaning for their learning Merriam, Caffarella, & Baumgartner, (2007)

Learning in the affective domain

• Adults process their learning and assign meaning to it in this way.

• Emotions can influence and increase the meaning

• More meaning = stronger, more effective learning

How does this apply to teaching ACLS to nurses?

• We need to teach ACLS through addressing these adult EI learning needs:

– self-awareness: address fearfulness in nurses by allowing them to be

Code Leader in an emotionally safe environment

– self-regulation: “a quiet code is a happy code”—no yelling or

carrying on

How does this apply to teaching ACLS to nurses? (cont.)

• We need to teach ACLS through addressing these adult EI learning needs:

– self motivation: “I want to learn ACLS so I’m prepared”

– social awareness: teach all nurses that New to Practice RNs can be

really frightened and will need support in a code

– social skills: teach the AHA’s Team Resuscitation concept: mutual

respect, elicit contributions, positive reinforcement

More Effective ACLS education

By teaching to adult learners’ EI needs, ACLS education can become

more effective

Concepts are better retained

Internalization of key points is enhanced

Outcome: through these techniques, nurses are more effective ACLS

providers

Outcome: More effective nurse providers of ACLS promotes more

successful patient outcomes.

Outcomes

Nurses’ skills with EI lead to better interpersonal relationships, which are associated with positive patient outcomes through healthy work environments (Codier, Molina Kooker, & Shoultz, 2008)

According to Codier, Molina Kooker, & Shoultz (2008), nurses can be taught EI which be improved toward developing an environment of respect through better communication.

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How, then, is EI incorporated into an ACLS course?

This can be accomplished by:Promoting a collegial atmosphere in the classroom portion

through eliciting questions and encouraging discussion

Presenting the practical, scenario-based, decision-making portion of the course (the MegaCode) as a group effort, with all members contributing toward the common goal of treating a patient’s cardiac arrest

Making that MegaCode experience nonthreatening and keeping it an emotionally safe environment, focused on the learning

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Examples of how to incorporate EI:

• Promoting a collegial atmosphere in the classroom:– While ACLS depends heavily on audiovisuals, the

instructor is present to answer questions.– Questions must be answered in a supportive,

respectful manner. – Encourage discussion of the content presented by

asking whether the learners have had any experiences using ACLS prior to this class and ask them to briefly describe these (as time permits)

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Examples of how to incorporate EI:• Presenting the MegaCode as a group effort– Upon taking a group of learners into the simulation

room with the manikin and other training equipment, ask where the learners work (one is from the ER, one from ICU, etc) to construct a scenario most like the learners’ experiences thus far

– Each will take a turn as Code Leader (primary decision maker). If they “freeze”, skip their turn and come back

– During the development of the resuscitation scenario, allow the “helpers” (non-Code Leaders) to contribute suggestions to assist the leader

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Examples of how to incorporate EI:Making that MegaCode experience nonthreatening

and emotionallyEnsure there is mutual respect among the learners during

the scenarioElicit assistance from the group for the Code Leader when

they do not know the answer or are unsureWhenever possible, within course guidelines, ask leading

questions of the learners so that they may arrive at the answer they need on their own, should they come up blank

Working together as a team in the resuscitation scenario fosters the social skill of managing professional relationships

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Conclusion

• Emotions affect what and how adults learn• Emotions can reinforce or hinder learning• Adults should be taught with emotional

intelligence in mind, as addressing its areas of influence will enhance adults’ learning

• Examples of how emotional intelligence can enhance nurses’ learning of ACLS include promoting collegiality, presenting the MegaCode as a group effort and keeping it an emotionally safe environment, focused on the learning

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Evaluations

• Please email your evaluations to me at either:

• Theodore.pettinicchi@waldenu.edu or

• pettinit@UPHS.upenn.edu

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ReferencesCherniss, C., Extein, M., Goleman, D. & Weissberg, R. P. (2006) Emotional Intelligence:

what does the research really indicate? Educational Psychologist, 41(4), 239–245

Codier, E., Molina Kooker, B., & Shoultz, J. (2008) Measuring the Emotional Intelligence of Clinical Staff Nurses: an approach for improving the clinical care environment. Nurs Admin Q, 32 (1), 8–14

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References

Latif, D. (2004) Using emotional intelligence in the planning and implementation of a management skills course.

Pharmacy Education, 4 (2), 81-89.

Merriam, S. B., Caffarella, R. S., & Baumgartner, L. M. (2007) Learning in adulthood: A comprehensive guide. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. 380-383.

References

Reeves, A. (2005) Emotional Intelligence: recognizing and regulating emotions. AAOHN Journal, 53 (4) 172-176

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