The Effectiveness of Advanced Practice Nurses with Respect to Complex Chronic Wounds in the Management of Venous Ulcers.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of advanced practice nurses with respect to complex chronic wounds (APN-CCWs) in the care of patients with venous ulcers. A multicentric, quasi-experimental pre-post study was conducted without a control group in the sanitary management areas where the APN-CCW program is being piloted. The intervention consisted of a mass training of clinical nurses from the participating districts on the proper management of injuries and the use of compression therapy. The data were collected through a specifically constructed questionnaire with questions regarding descriptive variables of injuries and their treatment. A total of 643 professionals responded (response rate of 89.1%), attending to a total population of 707,814 inhabitants. An increase in multilayer bandage use by 15.67%, an increase in elastic bandage use by 13.24%, and a significant decrease in the referral of patients to consultation with hospital specialists was achieved, from 21.08% to 12.34%. The number of patients referred to the APNs was 13.25%, which implied a resolution rate of 94.08% of their injuries. In conclusion, the coordination by the APN-CCWs in patients with venous ulcers was effective in improving the continuity of care, in the optimization of resources, and in their care role.

The implementation of the Mental Health Nursing Specialty in Andalusia. A community approach. / La implantación de la especialidad de Enfermería de Salud Mental en Andalucía desde un enfoque comunitario.

Health systems have a responsibility to respond to the new health needs of the population, which are characterized by factors such as aging, chronicity and/or dependency situations and which requires quality and specialized care adapted to different areas where care is provided, care offered by trained and increasingly qualified professionals to improve the health outcomes of the caregivers. In 2016, in Andalusia the regulatory framework by which is created the statutory professional category of nurse/specialists is published, including the specialty of Mental Health Nursing in the Andalusian Health Service. In the field of Mental Health, the development of this normative framework and the definition and occupation of positions, will allow the health system to combine the role of nurse specialist nurses with that of nurses who provide general care, registered nurses, in order to advance in the best response to the health needs of citizens in this area of care. The development of the specialty will be an added value both to improve the health outcomes of people with mental health problems, and to improve the quality of care, efficiency and sustainability of health systems.

The advanced practice nurse in the adequacy of chronic, complex wound care. / La enfermera de práctica avanzada en la adecuación de los tratamientos de las heridas crónicas complejas.

AIM: To determine the impact of advanced practice nurses in chronic wound care in the adequacy of treatments for patients with chronic wounds and the consumption of dressings in the districts where they have been implemented. METHOD: A quasi-experimental pre-poststudy without a control group with 3measurements: pre-implementation in 2015, one year after implementation in 2016, and 2years post-implementation in 2017, in the health districts (HD) where the role of the advanced practice nurse in chronic wound care was piloted in Andalusia. The main variables were trained professionals, consultancies, prevalence of chronic wounds, adequacy of treatments and economic cost in materials for the participating HD. RESULTS: The training of a total of 2,717 health teams with a total of 95,095 teaching hours was achieved. In addition, a total of 3,871 consultancies were performed. The prevalence of patients with injuries in the home care (HC) programme and in care homes diminished significantly, to almost half. The adequacy of the treatments increased to 90% and savings of more than 250,000€ in dressings were achieved in just 2years. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of chronic wounds during the 2years of implementation decreased by almost half. Adequacy of training and consultancy was achieved, rationalising health expenditure and ensuring efficient care for patients with chronic wounds.

Competential development of nurses in the public health system of Andalucía. / Desarrollo competencial de las enfermeras en el sistema sanitario público de Andalucía.

The socio-demographic and epidemiological changes of our environment are characterized by an increase in aging, chronic illness, comorbidities and with it, a progressive escalation of the demand for care. These new demands and expectations of citizenship are accompanied by an evolution of health systems (technological advances, complexity of the healthcare network, limited resources), the need to develop new roles and competence in care, together with the opportunity that full academic development implies: Nursing undergraduate and posgraduate degrees. This is why, at present, it is necessary to reorient care models in order to achieve health care for more agile, efficient and better quality care processes, adapted to the needs and expectations of citizens and to the sustainability of health systems. The Public Health System of Andalusia (SSPA) has developed, in recent decades, different nursing roles that include new competences, with the aim of responding to the needs of citizens. The objective of this article is to present how the competences development framework of nurses has been configured in the SSPA, which also integrates advanced skills in care and advanced practice profiles (Clinical Nurse Specialists and Advanced practice nurses).

Guía de atención enfermera a personas con diabetes

Documento que pretende ser una guía ágil donde las enfermeras encuentren respuestas ajustadas a cada situación, con el objetivo de adaptar su práctica clínica de manera individualizada a cada paciente y sus familias. Contiene: diagnósticos más prevalentes en personas con diabetes, diagnóstico y clasificación de la diabetes, la alimentación, ejercicio físico, tratamiento farmacológico, autoanálisis, hipoglucemia, hiperglucemia, complicaciones crónicas, cuidados de los pies, educación diabetológica, etc.