Australasian emergency nursing journal : AENJ
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Australas Emerg Nurs J · Nov 2012
Emergency department access targets and the older patient: a retrospective cohort study of emergency department presentations by people living in residential aged care facilities.
There is limited research on the effect of emergency access targets on health outcomes for older patients from Residential Aged Care Facilities. The aims were to: (1) identify length of stay for Residential Aged Care patients relative to access targets; and (2) examine hospital admission rates, readmission rates, inpatient costs and mortality. ⋯ Few Residential Aged Care patients were discharged within the four hours access target. This has implications for health care outcomes and costs associated with providing emergency care for patients living in Residential Aged Care Facilities.
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Australas Emerg Nurs J · Nov 2012
Multicenter StudyManaging the wait: clinical initiative nurses' perceptions of an extended practice role.
The Clinical Initiative Nurse (CIN) is a role that requires experienced emergency nurses to assess, initiate diagnostic tests and treat and manage a range of patient conditions. In 2010, the New South Wales Ministry of Health redefined the focus of the CIN role to be on waiting room patients. The new CIN role was now focused on the waiting room and to 'communicate the wait', initiate diagnostics and or treatment and follow-up for waiting room patients. While new models of care are often introduced the perceptions of those undertaking the roles are often absent from evaluation. We aimed to explore emergency nurses' perceptions of the extended practice role known as the Clinical Initiative Nurse. ⋯ We have provided a deeper understanding of the CIN role and of contextual factors operating in everyday practice. Further research is needed to determine how nursing roles can be sustained, learned, enjoyed and optimised to meet future healthcare goals.
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Australas Emerg Nurs J · Nov 2012
Comparative StudyEffect of nurse initiated X-rays of the lower limb on patient transit time through the emergency department.
To compare outcomes of nurse initiated X-rays (NIX) with emergency physician (EP) initiated X-rays (EPIX) of isolated lower limb injuries in patient transit time (from triage to discharge) through the emergency department (ED). ⋯ Although NIX reduced patient transit times, this did not reach statistical significance. In an ED with substantial access block, this suggests that corresponding systems changes are required to improve ED flow.
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Australas Emerg Nurs J · Nov 2012
ReviewNursing in the emergency department (ED) during a disaster: a review of the current literature.
The aim of this review was to explore the current literature about working as a nurse in the emergency department (ED) during a disaster. Nurses play an important role in caring for patients that present to the ED following a disaster. While there is a great deal of literature written about disasters and disaster response, little has been written from the emergency nursing perspective. ⋯ The literature highlights concern about the preparedness of ED nurses for disaster response and the capacity of nurses to transition to working in a disaster situation.
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Australas Emerg Nurs J · Nov 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialEvaluating the quality of care delivered by an emergency department fast track unit with both nurse practitioners and doctors.
This paper is a report of a study of quality of care delivered by an emergency department fast track unit where both doctors and an emergency nurse practitioner treated patients. ⋯ Patients received high quality of care in this fast track unit where both nurse practitioner and doctors treated patients. Emergency nurse practitioners were associated with higher patient satisfaction.