Poster Title: HEART-OPOLY: A cardiac nursing game for enhancing clinical and leadership skills

Background: Healthcare is constantly changing, and nurses must continuously improve their clinical and leadership skills to navigate complex healthcare systems. Continuing professional development is a lifelong process where nurses engage to maintain clinical competencies and achieve career goals. Traditional education methods, such as lectures and case studies, often fail to replicate real-world decision-making scenarios, showing the need for innovative educational tools that incorporate active learning and guide nurses in mastering specific skills needed for their unit. This quality improvement (QI) aimed to increase professional development opportunities for Cardiac Stepdown Unit (CSDU) nurses over 12 months by creating a targeted blueprint of rare yet essential skills, acknowledging and respecting their unique skills and contributions. Methods and implementation strategies: A game called Heart-opoly™ was implemented following the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle. P: The clinical nurse leader (CNL) collaborated with unit managers and the educator to identify gaps in unit nurses' leadership and clinical skills. D: Developed Heart-opoly™, which was not just a game but also a comprehensive guide to help nurses master these critical skills. Incentives were introduced to motivate and support nurses. Nurses will complete a post-survey after each game board section. The surveys serve as crucial assessments of the skills learned and provide feedback for further improving the game. The CNL will also track other metrics, including certifications and class participation. A: Incorporated frequent check-ins into the game to address any barriers to completing the game. Outcomes: As the project is ongoing, outcomes will be assessed via surveys and metrics after each game section. These results will measure the effectiveness of the interventions and provide insight into areas for improvement. Healthcare systems must provide nurses with opportunities to learn new skills and ensure safe patient care. Creating a monopoly-style game to guide nurses in mastering unit-specific skills may help them achieve career goals, enhance satisfaction, and improve overall professional development.