Saving Lives: Teaching Vital Signs Assessment

Early recognition of possible medical emergencies leads to quick intervention, potentially saving lives. Radiographers (x-ray techs) are often the only healthcare professionals present during an imaging exam and must be able to accurately assess vital signs readings in order to determine the need for medical response. The only radiography program in Hawaii had no formal method for teaching this important skill; therefore, an online vital signs assessment module was created to address this issue. The successful implementation of the Saving Lives: Learning Vital Signs Assessment website lead to the conversion of the module into a complete course hosted by the NEO learning management system (LMS).

John Keller’s ARCS Model of Motivational Design was used as the theoretical foundation for the new Saving Lives course, as literature reviewed supported application of this framework for online instruction. Attention and relevance were gained through presentation of medical scenarios. Confidence and satisfaction were boosted by immediate feedback which the NEO LMS provided.

The Saving Lives course was evaluated in January 2015, with one-on-one interviews conducted with a content matter expert and a website design expert. Suggested changes to the module were made, and small group implementation was conducted in February 2015. Thirteen first-year radiography students worked independently on the instructional module for one week. Results demonstrated an overall improvement between pre- and post-test scores and positive reception of this online method of instruction. This study supports the effectiveness of e-learning in the healthcare field when teaching practical hands-on skills such as vital signs assessment.