Jintana Damkliang1, Julie Considine2, Bridie Kent3, Maryann Street4. 1. School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia; Faculty of Nursing, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand. Electronic address: jdamklia@deakin.edu.au. 2. Eastern Health, Nursing & Midwifery Research Centre/Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia. Electronic address: julie.considine@deakin.edu.au. 3. University of Plymouth, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK. Electronic address: brigid.kent@plymouth.ac.uk. 4. Eastern Health, Nursing & Midwifery Research Centre/Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia. Electronic address: maryann.street@deakin.edu.au.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Thai emergency nurses play a vital role in caring for patients with severe TBI, and are an important part of the healthcare team throughout the resuscitation phase. They are also responsible for continuous physiological monitoring, and detecting deterioration associated with increased intracranial pressure and preventing secondary brain injury. However, there is known variation in Thai nurses' knowledge and care practices for patients with severe TBI. In addition, there are no specific evidence-based practice guidelines available for emergency nursing management of patients with severe TBI. AIM: The aim of this paper is to describe the development of an evidence-based care bundle for initial emergency nursing management of patients with severe TBI for use in a Thai ED context. RESULTS: An evidence-based care bundle focused on seven major elements: (1) establish a secure airway along with c-spine protection, (2) maintain adequacy of oxygenation and ventilation, (3) maintain circulation and fluid balance, (4) assessment of GCS, and pupil size and reactivity, (5) maintain cerebral venous outflow, (6) management of pain, agitation, and irritability, and (7) administer for urgent CT scan. CONCLUSIONS: A care bundle is one method of promoting consistent, evidence-based emergency nursing care of patients with severe TBI, decreasing unnecessary variations in nursing care and reducing the risk of secondary brain injury from suboptimal care. Implementation of this evidence-based care bundle developed specifically for the Thai emergency nursing context has the potential to improve the care of the patients with severe TBI.
BACKGROUND: Thai emergency nurses play a vital role in caring for patients with severe TBI, and are an important part of the healthcare team throughout the resuscitation phase. They are also responsible for continuous physiological monitoring, and detecting deterioration associated with increased intracranial pressure and preventing secondary brain injury. However, there is known variation in Thai nurses' knowledge and care practices for patients with severe TBI. In addition, there are no specific evidence-based practice guidelines available for emergency nursing management of patients with severe TBI. AIM: The aim of this paper is to describe the development of an evidence-based care bundle for initial emergency nursing management of patients with severe TBI for use in a Thai ED context. RESULTS: An evidence-based care bundle focused on seven major elements: (1) establish a secure airway along with c-spine protection, (2) maintain adequacy of oxygenation and ventilation, (3) maintain circulation and fluid balance, (4) assessment of GCS, and pupil size and reactivity, (5) maintain cerebral venous outflow, (6) management of pain, agitation, and irritability, and (7) administer for urgent CT scan. CONCLUSIONS: A care bundle is one method of promoting consistent, evidence-based emergency nursing care of patients with severe TBI, decreasing unnecessary variations in nursing care and reducing the risk of secondary brain injury from suboptimal care. Implementation of this evidence-based care bundle developed specifically for the Thai emergency nursing context has the potential to improve the care of the patients with severe TBI.