Helen Rawson1, Paul N Bennett2, Cherene Ockerby3, Alison M Hutchinson4, Julie Considine5. 1. Deakin University, Geelong, School of Nursing and Midwifery,75 Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds, VIC 3126, Australia; Deakin University, Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research, School of Nursing and Midwifery, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia; Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research, Monash Health Partnership, Clayton, VIC, Australia. Electronic address: helen.rawson@deakin.edu.au. 2. Deakin University, Geelong, School of Nursing and Midwifery,75 Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds, VIC 3126, Australia; Satellite Healthcare Inc, San Jose, CA, USA. 3. Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research, Monash Health Partnership, Clayton, VIC, Australia. 4. Deakin University, Geelong, School of Nursing and Midwifery,75 Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds, VIC 3126, Australia; Deakin University, Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research, School of Nursing and Midwifery, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia; Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research, Monash Health Partnership, Clayton, VIC, Australia. 5. Deakin University, Geelong, School of Nursing and Midwifery,75 Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds, VIC 3126, Australia; Deakin University, Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research, School of Nursing and Midwifery, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia; Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research, Eastern Health Partnership, Box Hill, VIC, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Older adults are high users of emergency department services and their care requirements can present challenges for emergency nurses. Although clinical outcomes for older patients improve when they are cared for by nurses with specialist training, emergency nurses' knowledge and self-assessment of care for older patients is poorly understood. AIM: To assess emergency nurses' knowledge and self-rating of practice when caring for older patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional self-report survey of emergency nurses (n=101) in Melbourne, Australia. RESULTS: Mean scores were 12.7 (SD 2.66) for the 25-item knowledge of older persons questionnaire, and 9.04 (SD 1.80) for the 15-item gerontic health related questions. Scores were unaffected by years of experience as a registered nurse or emergency nurse. More than 80% of nurses rated themselves as 'very good' or 'good' in assessing pain (94.9%), identifying delirium (87.8%), and identifying dementia (82.8%). Areas with a 'poor' ratings were identifying depression (46.5%), assessing polypharmacy (46.5%) and assessing nutrition (37.8%). CONCLUSIONS: There was variation in knowledge and self-rating of practice related to care of older patients. The relationship between knowledge and self-ratings of practice in relation to actual emergency nursing care of older people and patient outcomes warrants further exploration.
BACKGROUND: Older adults are high users of emergency department services and their care requirements can present challenges for emergency nurses. Although clinical outcomes for older patients improve when they are cared for by nurses with specialist training, emergency nurses' knowledge and self-assessment of care for older patients is poorly understood. AIM: To assess emergency nurses' knowledge and self-rating of practice when caring for older patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional self-report survey of emergency nurses (n=101) in Melbourne, Australia. RESULTS: Mean scores were 12.7 (SD 2.66) for the 25-item knowledge of older persons questionnaire, and 9.04 (SD 1.80) for the 15-item gerontic health related questions. Scores were unaffected by years of experience as a registered nurse or emergency nurse. More than 80% of nurses rated themselves as 'very good' or 'good' in assessing pain (94.9%), identifying delirium (87.8%), and identifying dementia (82.8%). Areas with a 'poor' ratings were identifying depression (46.5%), assessing polypharmacy (46.5%) and assessing nutrition (37.8%). CONCLUSIONS: There was variation in knowledge and self-rating of practice related to care of older patients. The relationship between knowledge and self-ratings of practice in relation to actual emergency nursing care of older people and patient outcomes warrants further exploration.
Authors: Lucas Oliveira J E Silva; Jessica A Stanich; Molly M Jeffery; Aidan F Mullan; Susan M Bower; Ronna L Campbell; Alejandro A Rabinstein; Robert J Pignolo; Fernanda Bellolio Journal: Acad Emerg Med Date: 2021-12-17 Impact factor: 5.221
Authors: Christel T A J Derks; Marjo M G M Hutten-van den Elsen; Lysette J Hakvoort; Mariëlle P J van Mersbergen; Marieke J Schuurmans; Jeroen Dikken Journal: BMC Nurs Date: 2021-08-04