ICU Flash Card Scenarios

Multidisciplinary Team Training in Intensive Care: Flash Card Scenarios

At the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, we strongly support the principle that “those who work together should train together.” Multidisciplinary team training is essential for safe, effective care in the ICU. This is reflected in national initiatives such as Health Education England’s Patient Safety Syllabus and the GPICS, and is a core tenet of good clinical practice in intensive care.

The Challenge of Training in a High-Pressure Environment

We understand that delivering regular team training in intensive care can be difficult. Time constraints, staffing pressures, and unpredictable clinical demands all pose significant barriers.

That’s why Flash Card Team Training is gaining traction as a flexible, low-resource method for embedding safety-focused conversations into daily ICU life. It provides an opportunity for staff to briefly step out of the clinical moment and reflect on key patient safety scenarios—together.

Origins and Evidence

This approach was first trialled at East Kent Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (EKHUFT) in 2019–20 (Burr, Featherstone), using short flash card scenarios to prompt discussions around human factors and emergency management.

In 2023, the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) developed a set of focused flash cards addressing unrecognised oesophageal intubation, reinforcing their value through a national patient safety campaign. Feedback consistently highlighted the need for broader scenario coverage—particularly those reflecting the complexity and diversity of ICU practice.

A New Resource for Critical Care Teams

In response, we are pleased to publish this Flash Card Starter Pack for Intensive Care. Adapted from the EKHUFT model, this pack includes:

• A set of ready-to-use flash card scenarios relevant to intensive care practice
• A customisable flash card template for creating localised training content
• An implementation guide with practical tips to support uptake in your unit

This resource is designed to be used flexibly—during handovers, downtime, or debriefs—and to engage the entire critical care team, including doctors, nurses, AHPs, and support staff.

Demonstration Video

To show the flash card approach in action, Dr Lina Grauslyte have produced a short demonstration video: