Educational Perspectives: Educational Strategies to Improve Outcomes from Neonatal Resuscitation

Abstract

Since 1987, the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) course has taught the cognitive, technical, and behavioral skills required to effectively resuscitate newborns. To remain relevant and effective, the NRP course needs to continually evolve and embrace evidence-based educational strategies proven to improve outcomes from resuscitation. In this Educational Perspectives article, 6 educational strategies that can be applied to neonatal resuscitation education are reviewed. These educational strategies include mastery learning and deliberate practice, spaced practice, contextual learning, feedback and debriefing, assessment, and innovative educational strategies Then knowledge translation and implementation of these educational strategies through passive and active knowledge translation, change theory, design thinking, performance measurement, deadoption strategies, continuous quality improvement, incentive and penalties, and psychological marketing are explored. Finally, ways to optimize faculty development of NRP instructors, including both initial instructor training and ongoing instructor development, are examined. The goal of this review is to help NRP program developers and instructors use evidence-based educational strategies to improve neonatal resuscitation outcomes.