Evaluating Nursing Performance During Heatwave Simulations: Protocol for a Repeated Measures Cross-Over Study

The study examines the impact of heat stress on hospital nurses using clinical simulations in a climatic chamber. Registered adult nurses working in UK hospitals will participate in five 3-hour experimental sessions at different temperatures: 18°C (control), 26°C (warm), and 34°C (hot), with half of the sessions including an electric fan. During each session, nurses will perform simulated clinical tasks including patient ward rounds and cardiac arrest scenarios. The research measures physiological changes (core body temperature, heart rate, sweating), fatigue and vigilance levels, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation performance quality. The aim is to determine how heat affects nursing performance and whether an electric fan can mitigate the negative effects of heat stress. The results will support the development of strategies to protect healthcare worker wellbeing and patient safety during extreme heat periods.