A new scale for disaster nursing core competencies : Development and psychometric testing
- Authors: Al Thobaity, Abdulellah , Williams, Brett , Plummer, Virginia
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australasian Emergency Nursing Journal Vol. 19, no. 1 (2016), p. 11-19
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- Description: Background: All nurses must have core competencies in preparing for, responding to and recovering from a disaster. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), as in many other countries, disaster nursing core competencies are not fully understood and lack reliable, validated tools. Thus, it is imperative to develop a scale for exploring disaster nursing core competencies, roles and barriers in the KSA. Objectives: This study's objective is to develop a valid, reliable scale that identifies and explores core competencies of disaster nursing, nurses' roles in disaster management and barriers to developing disaster nursing in the KSA. Methods: This study developed a new scale testing its validity and reliability. A principal component analysis (PCA) was used to develop and test psychometric properties of the new scale. The PCA used a purposive sample of nurses from emergency departments in two hospitals in the KSA. Participants rated 93 paper-based, self-report questionnaire items from 1 to 10 on a Likert scale. PCA using Varimax rotation was conducted to explore factors emerging from responses. Findings: The study's participants were 132 nurses (66% response rate). PCA of the 93 questionnaire items revealed 49 redundant items (which were deleted) and 3 factors with eigenvalues of >1. The remaining 44 items accounted for 77.3% of the total variance. The overall Cronbach's alpha was 0.96 for all factors: 0.98 for Factor 1, 0.92 for Factor 2 and 0.86 for Factor 3. Conclusions: This study provided a validated, reliable scale for exploring nurses' core competencies, nurses' roles and barriers to developing disaster nursing in the KSA. The new scale has many implications, such as for improving education, planning and curricula. © 2015.
The effect of transition to specialty practice programs on Australian emergency nurses’ professional development, recruitment and retention
- Authors: Morphet, Julia , Kent, Bridie , Plummer, Virginia , Considine, Julie
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australasian Emergency Nursing Journal Vol. 18, no. 4 (2015/11/01/ 2015), p. 204-211
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- Description: Summary Background To date, emergency nursing Transition to Specialty Practice Program (TSPP) evaluations have been single-site observational studies. The aim of this paper was to examine the professional development, recruitment and retention outcomes of Australian emergency nursing TSPPs. Methods An explanatory sequential design was used. Data were collected via online surveys and interviews of emergency Nurse Unit Managers and Nurse Educators. Survey data from EDs with TSPPs and EDs without TSPPs were compared. Qualitative data were analysed using content analysis. Results Data were collected from 118 EDs, and 13 interviews. TSPPs were offered in 72.1% of EDs. EDs with TSPPs had higher proportions of nurses with postgraduate qualifications (Mdn 28.3% vs. 22.1%, p=0.45) and Clinical Specialists (Mdn 16.4% vs. 6.3%, p=0.04). The median proportion of currently rostered nurses with TSPP completion was 34.2% in EDs with TSPPs introduced in 2000–2005 indicating ED high levels of retention. Conclusion Emergency nursing TSPPs have had a positive effect on nursing professional development, recruitment and retention. To ensure consistency in outcomes and optimise reliability of emergency nursing skills and knowledge, a national emergency nursing TSPP framework is needed.
Family presence during resuscitation (FPDR) : A survey of emergency personnel in Victoria, Australia
- Authors: Porter, Joanne , Cooper, Simon J. , Taylor, Beverley
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australasian Emergency Nursing Journal Vol. 18, no. 2 (2015), p. 98-105
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- Description: Background: Family presence during resuscitation (FPDR) has been endorsed internationally by resuscitation councils since the year 2000; however, the extent to which FPDR is practiced in emergency settings requires further investigation. Methods: Emergency personnel ( n= 347) from 18 participating emergency departments across the state of Victoria, Australia completed a 10-page questionnaire, which was designed to develop an understanding of the current practice and implementation of FPDR and to ascertain the differences in practice between adult and paediatric resuscitations. Results: Emergency personnel update their adult and paediatric advanced life support qualifications annually with 87% of nurses and 65% of doctors completing adult life support and 72% of nurses and 49% of doctors completing paediatric advanced life support training. The majority of nursing staff reported support for FPDR (83%) with over 70% indicating that it is apart of their current practice. There was strong agreement from both nurses (79%) and doctors (77%) that the family have the right to be present. A family support person was deemed as essential by nurses (92%) and doctors (89%) when allowing family to be present. A factor analysis was conducted on participant statements, revealing four codes; impact on professional practice and performance, personnel beliefs about FPDR, professional satisfaction and the importance of a support person and saying goodbye. Conclusion: A family support person was highlighted as essential to the successful implementation of FPDR, together with the development of a comprehensive training the education program for emergency personnel. FPDR continues to be a significant issue and further investigation into FPDR practice and implementation in the ED is warranted. © 2014 College of Emergency Nursing Australasia Ltd.
Perceptions of knowledge of disaster management among military and civilian nurses in Saudi Arabia
- Authors: Al Thobaity, Abdulellah , Plummer, Virginia , Innes, Kelli , Copnell, Beverley
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australasian Emergency Nursing Journal Vol. 18, no. 3 (2015), p. 156-164
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- Description: Summary Background It is generally accepted that nurses have insufficient knowledge about disaster preparedness due to a lack of acceptance of core competencies and the absence of disaster preparedness in nursing curricula.1 This study explored nurses’ knowledge and sources of knowledge, and skills as they relate to disaster management in Saudi Arabia, where more than 4660 people have died, 32,000 people have been affected, and US$4.65 billion in damage has been caused by disaster since 1980.2 Methods A quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive research design. Results Nurses in Saudi Arabia have moderate knowledge concerning disaster preparedness. However, nurses in military hospitals possess more knowledge than those who work in government hospitals. The majority of nurses gained their knowledge and skills from disaster drills. Conclusions Nurses need more education in all areas of disaster management, most importantly in their roles during response to disasters. Nurses perceive themselves as not well-prepared but they are willing to improve their skills in disaster preparedness if educational opportunities are provided.
Emergency and palliative care nurses' levels of anxiety about death and coping with death : A questionnaire survey
- Authors: Peters, Louise , Cant, Robyn , Payne, Sheila , O'Connor, Margaret , McDermott, Fiona , Hood, Kerry , Morphet, Julia , Shimoinaba, Kaori
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australasian Emergency Nursing Journal Vol. 16, no. 4 (2013), p. 152-159
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- Description: Background: Caring for dying patients and their families presents many challenges, and may be negatively affected by nurses' Fear of Death. This study investigates attitudes of emergency and palliative care nurses towards death and dying. Methods: A mixed methods design including questionnaire and interview, was utilised. This paper reports questionnaire results from the Death Attitude Profile-Revised Scale and coping skills. Results: Twenty-eight emergency nurses and 28 palliative care nurses from two health services participated. Nurses held low to moderate Fear of Death (44%), Death Avoidance (34%), Escape Acceptance (47%) and Approach Acceptance (59%). Emergency nurses reported higher death avoidance and, significantly lower coping skills than palliative care nurses. Both reported high acceptance of the reality of death (Neutral Acceptance 82%), and indicated they coped better with a patient who was dying than with, the patient's family. Conclusions: Nurses generally held positive attitudes towards death and dying. Participants could cope with caring for dying patients, but were significantly less comfortable coping with patients' family members. Nurses should be aware of the impact their attitude towards death may have on providing supportive nursing care for the dying. © 2013 College of Emergency Nursing Australasia Ltd.
Collaboration between nurses and physicians in an Indonesian Emergency Department
- Authors: Suryanto , Plummer, Virginia , Copnell, Beverley
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australasian Emergency Nursing Journal Vol. 19, no. 2 (2016), p. 82-89
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- Description: Background: Positive collaboration between nurses and physicians is essential in emergency practice because it has a significant relationship with the quality, safety, accountability, and responsibility of care. The aim of this study was to examine nurses' and physicians' attitudes towards collaboration in the Emergency Department in the Indonesian context. Methods: The study was a comparative study using a modified Jefferson Scale of Attitude towards Physician-Nurse Collaboration. Data were collected from 47 nurses and 24 physicians of one of 25 general hospitals in Malang, Indonesia, by anonymous survey. Results: Emergency nurses had significantly more positive attitudes towards collaboration than emergency physicians (P < 0.001). Emergency nurses had significantly higher scores in three of four domains of the instrument, "physician dominance", "nurse autonomy", and "caring as opposed to curing". The effects of gender, age, and education on nurses' and physicians' attitude towards collaboration were not statistically significant. However, experience in the Emergency Department of the general hospital was significantly related to participants' attitudes towards collaboration (P = 0.023). Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that attitudes towards collaboration among the two professions should be enhanced. Inter-professional education and promotion of teamwork may be solutions to improve the relationship, not only between nurses and physicians, but also other healthcare providers. © 2016 College of Emergency Nursing Australasia.
ED-HOME : Improving educator confidence and patient education in the Emergency Department
- Authors: Coombs, Nicole , Porter, Joanne , Beauchamp, Alison
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australasian Emergency Nursing Journal Vol. 19, no. 3 (2016), p. 133-137
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- Description: Background Barriers to effective patient communication in the emergency department (ED) are well recognised; time, resources and staff and consumer expectations. This project aimed to improve the quality of health education provided in the ED by increasing nurses’ confidence as educators. Method By providing a staff information package including the introduction of a new structured education tool; ED-HOME, and by assessing the confidence and self-efficacy of the nurses in the process, we hoped to determine if an improvement in practice and confidence was achieved. A quantitative, pre and post-test questionnaire comparison study was undertaken before and after a four week implementation period. The project examined the attitudes and practices of registered emergency nurses and was conducted in one metropolitan emergency department. Results Results indicated that nurse confidence and self-efficacy improved by using the new structured ED-HOME format and both staff satisfaction and education competence increased. Participants positively responded to the new tool and recommended future use in the ED. Conclusion This project demonstrates that if emergency nurses feel more confident with their educating practices and by using a structured format, patients will benefit from better quality patient education provided in the ED. © 2016 College of Emergency Nursing Australasia