Date of Doctor of Nursing Practice Project Completion
2026
Faculty Advisor
Shannon Warren, DNP, MBA, APRN, AGACNP-BC, TCRN, CCRN, CVRN-BC, CSC, CMC
Abstract
Purpose
This scholarly project aimed to implement an Acute Critical Event Debriefing (ACED) program in an intensive care unit to improve resuscitation quality by increasing post–cardiopulmonary arrest debriefing completion rates and enhancing documentation of airway confirmation during resuscitation events. The project took place in a 12-bed intensive care unit at a large academic safety-net hospital in Dallas, Texas.
Background
Structured debriefing after cardiopulmonary arrest events was recommended to enhance team performance, clinical education, and resuscitation quality. However, debriefing following code events was inconsistently conducted across many intensive care units, limiting opportunities for team reflection and quality improvement.
Methodology
The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) methodology guided targeted in-service training, including an introduction to the ACED program with visual aids, participation in mock codes to reinforce resuscitation practices, and hands-on training on airway confirmation documentation. Revisions were informed by debriefing rates, documented airway confirmations, and stakeholder feedback throughout the PDSA cycles.
Results
During pre-implementation, debriefing completion rates averaged 54%, well below the 80% target. After ACED implementation, rates increased to 63%, with one month reaching 100%, though variability remained. Documentation of airway confirmation improved from 0% pre-implementation to 100% during implementation, surpassing the target. Stakeholder feedback highlighted three themes: training value, desires for broader access and equity, and workflow and cultural barriers to debriefing.
Implications
The implementation of the ACED program was linked to improved resuscitation quality metrics, including a significant increase in airway confirmation documentation and modest rises in debriefing completion. Addressing workflow and cultural barriers may further boost sustainability and interdisciplinary participation in structured post–event debriefings.
Keywords
critical event debriefing, cardiopulmonary arrest, quality improvement
Recommended Citation
Shara Baker, "Implementation of an Acute Critical Event Debriefing to Enhance the Quality of Cardiopulmonary Arrest Resuscitation in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at a Safety-Net Hospital" (2026). Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract. 171.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/dnp_abstract/171