Abstract
BACKGROUND: Beginning an unfamiliar rotation can be challenging as residents must expand their knowledge and skills to meet new clinical expectations, work with a new team of providers, and sometimes care for a new patient demographic. This may detract from learning, resident well-being, and patient care. METHODS: We implemented an obstetric anesthesia simulation session for anesthesiology residents prior to their first obstetric anesthesia rotation and measured the effect on residents' self-perceived preparedness. RESULTS: The simulation session increased residents' feelings of preparedness for the rotation and increased residents' confidence in specific obstetric anesthesia skills. CONCLUSIONS: Importantly, this study shows the potential for the use of a prerotation, rotation-specific simulation session to better prepare learners for rotations.