A Comparison of Nurses' Situation Awareness and Eye-Tracking Data in Precardiac Arrest Simulations

Background: Eye tracking has emerged as a new technology for assessing nurses' visual attention in simulation, but its relationship with situation awareness, a precursor to clinical decision-making, remains to be defined. This study compared role-based situation awareness and visual attention using eye-tracking in simulation. Methods: Newly hired nurses participated in a cardiac arrest simulation as part of an orientation program. Eye-tracking data were collected to assess visual attention during the prearrest period. Participants completed a situation awareness questionnaire after the simulation. Data were compared according to participants' roles in the simulation. Results: Results suggest a role-based difference in nurses' visual attention and situation awareness: designated nurses ( n = 12) looked at the patient more often, for longer periods and were more aware of signs of patient deterioration than teammates ( n = 14). Conclusions: : This study was the first to combine eye-tracking and situation awareness data to compare two nursing roles during a precardiac arrest simulation. The findings also suggest gaps and learning needs in nurses' understanding of signs of patient deterioration and other nontechnical skills.