| Records |
| Author |
Curtis, K.; Donoghue, J. |
Title  |
The trauma nurse coordinator in Australia and New Zealand: A progress survey of demographics, role function, and resources |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2008 |
Publication |
Journal of Trauma Nursing |
Abbreviated Journal |
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| Volume |
15 |
Issue |
2 |
Pages |
34-42 |
| Keywords |
Emergency nursing; Personnel; Nurse managers; Economics |
| Abstract |
An initial profile of the demographics and current practice of Australian trauma nurse coordinators (TNCs) was conducted in 2003. The study identified common and differing role components, provided information to assist with establishing national parameters for the role, and identified the resources perceived necessary to enable the role to be performed effectively. This article compares the findings of the 2003 study with a 2007 survey, expanded to include New Zealand trauma coordinators. Forty-nine people, identified as working in a TNC capacity in Australia and New Zealand, were invited to participate in February 2007. Participation in the research enabled an update of the previously compiled Australia/New Zealand trauma network list. Thirty-six surveys (71.5% response rate) were returned. Descriptive statistics were undertaken for each item, and comparisons were made among states, territories, and countries. Participants reported that most of their time was spent fulfilling the trauma registry component of the role (27% of total hours), followed by quality and clinical activities (19% of total hours), education, and administration. The component associated with the least amount of time was outreach (3% of total hours). Although the proportion of time has almost halved since 2003, TNCs still spend the most time maintaining trauma registries. Compared to the 2003 survey, Australian and New Zealand TNCs are working more unpaid overtime, spending more time performing quality and clinical activities and less time doing data entry. Despite where one works, the role components identified are fulfilled to a certain extent. However, the authors conclude that trauma centres need to provide the TNC with adequate resources if trauma care systems are to be optimally effective |
| Call Number |
NRSNZNO @ research @ |
Serial |
964 |
| Permanent link to this record |
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| Author |
Gabolinscy, B. |
| Title |
Triage codes: A predictor of nursing care time in the emergency department |
Type |
|
| Year |
2005 |
Publication |
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Abbreviated Journal |
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| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
|
| Keywords |
Emergency nursing; Time factors |
| Abstract |
This thesis explores triage code as a predictor of direct nursing care time, thus its potential usefulness in a model for calculating and allocating nurse requirements in emergency departments. A framework for nursing work is proposed. This framework is based on the works of O'Brien-Pallas, Irvine, Peereboom, and Murray (1997) and Houser (2003). It suggests that the structures of environmental complexity, nursing characteristics, patient nursing complexity, and patient medical condition and severity, impact on the processes of direct and indirect nursing care to affect patient outcomes. A prospective, non-experimental study was undertaken to examine the relationship between direct nursing care time and triage code. Six potential confounding variables were selected for this study: length of stay, age, ethnicity, sex, complaint type, and discharge category. Data were collected for 261 visits over a three day period in one New Zealand emergency department. Patient visits averaged 200 minutes. The mean direct nursing care time per visit was 49 minutes. On average, patients with more urgent triage codes, longer length of stay, or who were not discharged, received more direct nursing care. The model developed predicted 49% of variation in direct nursing care time (p < .05) related to triage code (16%), length of stay (31%) and disposition category (2%). The author suggests that further exploration of the proposed framework has potential to develop a model allowing managers to identify nurse staffing required for optimal nursing care in emergency departments. |
| Call Number |
NRSNZNO @ research @ 481 |
Serial |
468 |
| Permanent link to this record |
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| Author |
Blackmore, L.A. |
| Title |
Triaging patients away from the emergency department: A review of the issues |
Type |
|
| Year |
2006 |
Publication |
|
Abbreviated Journal |
Victoria University of Wellington Library |
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
|
| Keywords |
Emergency nursing |
| Abstract |
With the intention of decreasing emergency department demand, there has been a focus on determining those patients who do not require the services of the emergency department so they can be redirected away to an alternative health care provider or facility. Co-locating an after-hours primary health care facility near to the emergency department is a model under consideration in some district health boards. This model suggests that a substantial proportion of the patients currently managed in the emergency department can be assessed and managed in a general practice setting. It is envisaged that by redirecting the lower acuity patients away from the emergency department, overcrowding will be relieved. This is despite evidence demonstrating that low acuity patients are not the cause of emergency department overcrowding. Moreover, being treated at the emergency department is the only safety net for many people in the community who cannot afford alternative care. This research report discusses the literature regarding the practice of referring or redirecting patients away from the emergency department and the issues associated with this model. In doing this, it looks at the Australasian Triage Scale, the system used to ensure patients are seen in order of clinical urgency, because it has been suggested that this system could be used as a tool to refer patients away from the emergency department. The author concludes that even though some people could be seen by another health care provider, the triage system is not an appropriate tool for achieving this. While it is tempting to believe that patients in the lower triage categories are prime candidates for being referred away, there is evidence from hospital statistics that patients in these categories have a high number of hospital admissions and in-hospital death rates. Additionally, to complicate matters, there is no universal definition of what constitutes an 'appropriate' emergemcy department presentation and no consensus of opinion amongst health professionals in deciding patients' 'appropriateness'. For these reasons it is unethical to expect nurses who administer the triage system to use it for the purpose of referring people away from the emergency department. |
| Call Number |
NRSNZNO @ research @ |
Serial |
736 |
| Permanent link to this record |
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| Author |
McKerras, R. |
| Title |
Waiting in the emergency department – it doesn't have to take all day |
Type |
|
| Year |
2005 |
Publication |
|
Abbreviated Journal |
Victoria University of Wellington Library |
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
|
| Keywords |
Emergency nursing |
| Abstract |
This thesis explores the nature of the emergency department environment as it continues to challenge emergency nurses to meet the health needs of an increasingly complex emergency department population. The emergency nurse is also facing conflict and challenge with regard to workplace safety and patient rights. The author suggests that, until recently, very little debate or consideration has been given to the moral dilemmas raised in the ability of emergency department staff to deliver timely and appropriate care in an overcrowded environment. She goes on to say that, in New Zealand, there is no national consistency with regard to the waiting crisis, no national guidelines and no national consensus putting the emergency nurse at risk. This thesis argues the need to acknowledge waiting times as a significant safety issue at a national level as increasing waiting times continue to impact on patient outcomes and nursing practice. It challenges current practice, in particular the role of the emergency nurse and the potential to legitimise expansion of the role to improve the patient experience of waiting in the emergency department. |
| Call Number |
NRSNZNO @ research @ |
Serial |
512 |
| Permanent link to this record |
