Development of a self-instructional program on pressure-controlled ventilators.

Discussed are the instructional development, materials, application, and evaluation of a program to train staff to apply pressure controlled ventilators correctly and to recognize and correct malfunctions in the apparatus. The self-instructional portion of the program requires slide sets, audiotapes, workbooks, and some of the sections require special apparatus. The rest of the program includes demonstrations, supervised practice, and experience in a recovery room. Compared to lecture technique, faculty teaching time has been reduced by half; teaching tends to be more satisfying, and the performance of students who complete the self-instructional part of the program is improved. For best results, the self-instructional materials must be supplemented with demonstrations and practice.