Abstract Body: Background: Strokes can occur anywhere in the hospital and stroke codes are not limited to dedicated stroke units. Despite this, most educational resources are focused on stroke-specific units rather than on all inpatient nursing areas. For our 2024 stroke educational initiative we assessed the nurses' competency and comfort level serving as the primary nurse in a stroke code by designing an interactive Escape Room for nurses working in both stroke and non-stroke units. We measured the its success using a pre- and post-activity survey of the nurses as well as their ability to successfully complete the Escape Room challenges.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to implement an educational activity and assessment for nurses on both stroke and non-stroke units, and to measure the success of this intervention.

Methods: The intervention consistent of a stroke competency, conducted over four days, that included over 200 nurses from non critical care units. The Escape Room consisted of three puzzles for non-stroke units and an additional puzzle for stroke units. Participants were asked to complete a pre-intervention survey self-reporting their comfort level in managing a stroke code using a Likert scale of 1 (very uncomfortable) to 5 (very comfortable). The puzzles included identifying the components of the BEFAST stroke mnemonic, preparing necessary equipment and utilizing appropriate communication for a stroke code, and recognizing potential post-stroke complications. Stroke unit nurses also completed a fourth puzzle focused on patient education. A post-intervention survey allowed nurses to self-report their comfort level after completing the training and interactive Escape Room activity.

Results: After completing the stroke Escape Room there was a significant increase in nurses' comfort levels serving as the primary nurse in a stroke code across both stroke and non-stroke units. On stroke units the comfort level increased from 3.73 to 4.75 and 3.01 to 4.24 on non-stroke units. All nurses as a group were able to complete the Escape Room.

Conclusion: As an adjunct to standard stroke education, Escape Rooms are an innovative and interactive way to increase nurses' comfort levels serving in a lead role during a stroke code on both stroke and non-stroke units. Further studies are warranted to assess the benefits of Escape Room challenges as a tool for assessing stroke knowledge, with the implication of potential integration into larger stroke training programs.