Clarity, confidence and complexity: Learning from mental health nurses' experiences of events involving physiological deterioration of consumers in acute inpatient mental health settings.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: To capture the experiences of nurses in relation to the acutely physiologically deteriorating consumer. BACKGROUND: Improving the physical health care of consumers with mental illness has been widely adopted as a priority for mental health nursing. Much of the effort thus far has focused on routine screening, prevention and treatment of common comorbidities including cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and cancer. There has been less focus on the acutely physiologically deteriorating consumer in the mental health setting. Further study is warranted since this issue poses a set of highly complex challenges for nurses within the inpatient setting. METHOD: An exploratory, descriptive study was employed using focus groups to gather narrative data, which was then subject to qualitative analysis. Eleven mental health inpatient wards within a local health district in Sydney, Australia, were studied, comprising ward-based nurses (n = 64) and nurse unit managers (n = 8). This paper follows the COREQ guidelines for reporting qualitative health research. RESULTS: Qualitative data analysis revealed three themes central to the nurses' experience: (a) lack of clarity (subthemes: procedures and leadership accountability); (b) confidence in the workforce (subthemes: knowledge and skills, training needs, relevant experience, collaboration with emergency and medical teams, stigmatising attitudes); and (c) complexity (subthemes: complexity as the new norm and suitability of the mental health environment). CONCLUSION: The themes found in this study can be used to guide and inform healthcare policy, protocols, education and processes around building a more confident nurse workforce for the acutely physiologically deteriorating consumer. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Findings provide a rich data set for the generation of measurement tools and protocols to guide physical health care and evaluate performance.

A cluster randomised controlled feasibility study of nurse-initiated behavioural strategies to manage interruptions during medication administration.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the feasibility of a behavioural e-learning intervention to support nurses to manage interruptions during medication administration. DESIGN: A cluster randomised feasibility trial. SETTING: The cluster trial included four intervention and four control wards randomly selected across four metropolitan hospitals in Sydney, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: We observed 806 (402 pre-intervention and 404 post-intervention) medication events, where nurses prepared and administered medications to patients within the cluster wards. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measured was the observed number of interruptions occurring during administration, with secondary outcomes being the number of clinical errors and procedural failures. Changes in the use of behavioural strategies to manage interruptions, targeted by the e-learning intervention, were also assessed. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in the number of interruptions (P = 0.82), procedural failures (P = 0.19) or clinical errors per 100 medications (P = 0.32), between the intervention and control wards. Differences in the use of specific behavioural strategies (engagement and multitasking) were found in the intervention wards. CONCLUSION: This behavioural e-learning intervention has not been found to significantly reduce interruptions, however, changes in the use of strategies did occur. Careful selection of clinical settings where there is a high number of predictable interruptions is recommended for further research into the impact of the behavioural e-learning intervention. An increase in the intensity of this intervention is recommended with training undertaken away from the clinical setting. Further research on additional consumer-sensitive interventions is urgently needed.

The impact of interruptions on medication errors in hospitals: an observational study of nurses.

AIM: To explore interruptions during medication preparation and administration and their consequences. BACKGROUND: Although not all interruptions in nursing have a negative impact, interruptions during medication rounds have been associated with medication errors. METHOD: A non-participant observational study was undertaken of nurses conducting medication rounds. RESULTS: Fifty-six medication events (including 101 interruptions) were observed. Most medication events (99%) were interrupted, resulting in nurses stopping medication preparation or administration to address the interruption (mean 2.5 minutes). The mean number of interruptions was 1.79 (SD 1.04). Thirty-four percent of medication events had at least one procedural failure, while 3.6% resulted in a clinical error. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirmed that interruptions occur frequently during medication preparation and administration, and these interruptions were associated with procedural failures and clinical errors. Nurses were the primary source of interruptions with interruptions often being unrelated to patient care. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: This study has confirmed that interruptions are frequent and result in clinical errors and procedural failures, compromising patient safety. These interruptions contribute a substantial additional workload to medication tasks. Various interventions should be implemented to reduce non-patient-related interruptions. Medication systems and procedures are advocated, that reduce the need for joint double-checking of medications, indirectly avoiding interruptions.

Antenatal psychosocial risk status and Australian women's use of primary care and specialist mental health services in the year after birth: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Poor mental health in the perinatal period can impact negatively on women, their infants and families. Australian State and Territory governments are investing in routine psychosocial assessment and depression screening with referral to services and support, however, little is known about how well these services are used. The aim of this paper is to report on the health services used by women for their physical and mental health needs from pregnancy to 12 months after birth and to compare service use for women who have been identified in pregnancy as having moderate-high psychosocial risk with those with low psychosocial risk. METHODS: One hundred and six women were recruited to a prospective longitudinal study with five points of data collection (2-4 weeks after prenatal booking, 36 weeks gestation, 6 weeks postpartum, 6 months postpartum and 12 months postpartum) was undertaken. Data were collected via face-to-face and telephone interviews, relating to psychosocial risk factors, mental health and service use. The prenatal psychosocial risk status of women (data available for 83 of 106 women) was determined using the Antenatal Risk Questionnaire (ANRQ) and was used to compare socio-demographic characteristics and service use of women with 'low' and 'moderate to high' risk of perinatal mental health problems. RESULTS: The findings indicate high use of postnatal universal health services (child and family health nurses, general practitioners) by both groups of women, with limited use of specialist mental health services by women identified with moderate to high risk of mental health problems. While almost all respondents indicated that they would seek help for mental health concerns most had a preference to seek help from partners and family before accessing health professionals. CONCLUSION: These preliminary data support local and international studies that highlight the poor uptake of specialist services for mental health problems in postnatal women, where this may be required. Further research comparing larger samples of women (with low and psychosocial high risk) are needed to explore the extent of any differences and the reasons why women do not access these specialist services.

Intentional rounding: facilitators, benefits and barriers.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To describe the implementation, practice and sustainability of Intentional Rounding (IR) within two diverse settings (aged care and maternity). BACKGROUND: The profile of patients in hospitals has changed over time, generally being more severe, placing heavy demands on nurses' time. Routine non-urgent care is often provided only when there is time. IR has been found to increase both patient and staff satisfaction, also resulting in improved patient outcomes such as reduced falls and call bell use. IR is also used as a time management tool for safe and reliable provision of routine care. METHODS: This descriptive qualitative research study comprised of three focus groups in a metropolitan hospital. RESULTS: Fifteen nurses participated in three focus groups. Seven main themes emerged from the thematic analysis of the verbatim transcripts: implementation and maintenance, how IR works, roles and responsibilities, context and environment, benefits, barriers and legal issues. CONCLUSION: IR was quickly incorporated into normal practice, with clinicians being able to describe the main concepts and practices. IR was seen as a management tool, facilitating accountability and continuity of management support being essential for sustainability. Clinicians reported increases in patient and staff satisfaction, and the opportunity to provide patient education. While patient type and acuity, ward layout and staff experience affected the practice of IR, the principles of IR are robust enough to allow for differences in the ward specialty and patient type. However, care must be taken when implementing IR to reduce the risk of alienating experienced staff. Incorporation of IR charts into the patient health care record is recommended. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Engaging all staff, encouraging ownership and stability of management are key factors in the successful implementation and maintenance of IR. IR is flexible and robust enough to accommodate different patient types and acuity.

Early identification and management of the unstable adult patient in the emergency department.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The focus of this research was to standardise an emergency observation chart, the Adult Emergency Department Flow Chart, which incorporates elements designed to allow clinicians to more readily recognise the trends of patient deterioration. BACKGROUND: Patients present to the Emergency Department with some form of instability. Core skills and principles of Emergency Department care are to rapidly and continually assess the clinical condition of the patient, prioritise their care and treat accordingly. Often, however, deterioration of these patients is missed. The incidence of missed deterioration is set within a background of increasing presentations to Emergency Departments, greater complexity of the patient health status, longer length of stay within the Emergency Department and an ageing population. DESIGN: This quantitative research study comprised a retrospective medical record audit. Only those records containing notes relating to an Emergency Department admission were included. METHODS: An online data collection tool based on the Adult Emergency Department Flow Chart was developed. A total of 181 medical records were reviewed: 80 during the pre-implementation audit and 101 during the post-implementation audit. RESULTS: The Adult Emergency Department Flow Chart enabled clinicians to better identify deteriorating patients, with a higher number of abnormal vital signs being identified at the post-implementation audit. Identification of pain also dramatically increased at the post-implementation audit. Documentation of notification to Medical Officers also increased, as did documentation of the number of patients receiving medication to help treat the abnormal vital sign. CONCLUSION: The introduction of the Adult Emergency Department Flow Chart facilitated the essential role of nurses in the identification, documentation and monitoring of the unstable or deteriorating patient in the Emergency Department. Further research is required with larger samples to determine the impact of the Adult Emergency Department Flow Chart on the timely management of abnormal vital signs. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The Adult Emergency Flow Chart provides a valuable tool for the early identification and subsequent management of an unstable / deteriorating adult in the emergency department, particularly for clinicians with limited experience.

Rekindling the role of nurses in patients' oral nutrition.

Hospital malnutrition is a worldwide problem. A nutritional care policy was evaluated to determine whether nutrition was enhanced by improving patients' access and nurses' supervision of meals. Fourteen pre-audit wards (435 patients) and 20 postaudit wards (422 patients) across three hospitals participated in a pre-post audit and observation study with an examination of documentation. A food satisfaction survey was completed by 226 patients (pre) and 240 patients (post). A modest increase in the proportion of patients receiving supervision with meals (83% pre, 88% post, P = 0.058) was not associated with an increase in consumption (50% or more of meal). Patients report poor appetite in the presence of good to fair food quality. The nurse's role in nutritional care was defined. Protected mealtimes supported by nurse managers reorganizing staff mealtimes with assistance from carers, volunteers and other health professionals were endorsed. Nurses must ensure that patient's meal trays are accessible.

Assessment of the elderly: it's worth covering the risks.

BACKGROUND: Comprehensive assessments provide an invaluable opportunity to identify those at risk of adverse health events, enabling timely access to appropriate health care. AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a comprehensive assessment tool, the Adult Patient Assessment Tool (APAT), particularly in relation to early identification of older people at risk of falls, pressure areas, cognitive impairment or delirium, or patients with mental illness or substance abuse. METHODS: Concurrent mixed methods including an initial retrospective medical record audit and focus groups were used. RESULTS: With the introduction of the APAT, assessment of falls risk and mental illness increased. The number of nursing actions relating to pressure areas and falls also increased, indicating a greater awareness of patients' individual needs. Non-clinical information gathered through the APAT enabled a more holistic approach to patient care. CONCLUSION: The use of electronic medical records would alleviate pressures on nurses' time, providing an opportunity to store and retrieve comprehensive nursing assessment and benefit patient health care. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Early assessment results in an increased number of nursing activities related to patient care. Further education relating to mental health and substance abuse screening and cognitive assessment may enhance the completion of these tools.

Perceptions of the impact of health-care services provided to palliative care clients and their carers.

A wide range of services are provided to palliative care clients to alleviate pain and improve their quality of life. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of clients and their carers regarding palliative care services in New South Wales, Austalia. Ten patients and their carers (n = 7) were randomly selected from a sample of palliative care clients and were informed of the study and interviewed. Interview data were coded independently by three researchers and thematic analysis was undertaken. The themes identified were similar for both clients and carers and included: access to services; service provision; impact on way of life; usefulness of services; and staffing. An additional theme identified by clients was the burden of caregiving on carers. Knowledge of perceptions and concerns of client and carers is important to consider when planning palliative care services.

The Nursing and Midwifery Content Audit Tool (NMCAT): a short nursing documentation audit tool.

BACKGROUND: The Nursing and Midwifery Content Audit Tool (NMCAT) was developed to monitor the quality of nursing documentation. METHODS: A health care record audit was conducted on 200 records. Using a time-sampling approach, recent nursing documentation was examined. Inter-rater reliability was determined at 85% agreement between two raters. RESULTS: The NMCAT criteria relating to the recording of the patients' health status, use of objective information and logical presentation were met to a high level. The patients' response to treatment or nursing interventions including medications requires attention. The recording of events immediately after they have occurred was limited. The structure of the sentences and language used, restricted the readability of the documentation. The widespread use of local abbreviations, often connected together to form the text, was problematic. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides new audit solutions based on time-sampling approaches and focused evidence-based criteria. The use of language support software and writing coaches to improve the presentation of nursing documentation is recommended. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: The NMCAT is a time-efficient tool available to managers for monitoring the quality of nursing documentation, either at a unit level or across health facilities to demonstrate compliance with quality standards.

Building social capital with women in a socially disadvantaged community.

Individual and community health outcomes are strengthened by friendships and social support networks. Community interventions aimed at improving the social factors that influence the health of individuals and communities increasingly include strategies to develop resilience through building networks and social capital. The study reported here used a cross-sectional survey design, administered at two time points, to measure the effect of a community capacity-building programme implemented by Women's Health Nurses. Data described and where possible measured women's perceptions of their physical and mental well-being, friendships and support networks, community connectedness and participation, safety, and knowledge of and access to local community services. The follow-up survey also measured the impact of specific community development initiatives. Overall, findings of both surveys were consistent, with some notable exceptions. For example, at follow up there was a significant improvement in mental health indicators and fewer women believed their physical or emotional problems imposed a considerable burden on their daily activities. They also believed people from other cultures were more likely to be accepted by neighbours and reported increased involvement in community activities as a direct result of the Villawood Icebreakers Project.

The evaluation of an oral health education program for midwives in Australia.

BACKGROUND: Antenatal care providers are now recommended to promote oral health during pregnancy and provide dental referrals. However, midwives in Australia are not trained to undertake this role. To address this shortcoming, an online evidence based midwifery initiated oral health (MIOH) education program was systematically developed as a professional development activity. AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the program in improving the oral health knowledge of midwives and assess their confidence to promote maternal oral health post training. METHODS: The program was evaluated using a pre-post test design involving 50 midwives purposively recruited from two states in Australia. The pre-post questionnaire contained 24 knowledge items previously pilot tested as well as items exploring confidence in promoting oral health and perceptions of the program. FINDINGS: The results showed a significant improvement in the oral health knowledge (↑21.5%, p<0.001) of midwives after completion of the program. The greatest improvement in knowledge occurred in key areas vital in promoting maternal oral health namely the high prevalence of dental problems and its impact on birth and infant outcomes. The majority also reported being confident in introducing oral health into antenatal care (82%) and referring women to dental services (77.6%) after undertaking the education program. CONCLUSION: The MIOH education program is a useful resource to equip midwives with the necessary knowledge and skills to promote oral health during pregnancy. The program is accessible and acceptable to midwives and can potentially be transferable to other antenatal care providers.

Women-centred care and caseload models of midwifery.

OBJECTIVE: A partnership caseload model of midwifery-led practice was developed and introduced as an option of maternity care for low risk women at our local health service. To assess the benefits of this new practice model, aspects of continuity, choice, control and satisfaction were examined in women receiving Primary Health Midwifery Care (PHMC) and standard hospital care (SHC). DESIGN AND SETTING: A descriptive comparative design was used and survey data were collected using a modified version of the Mason Survey of Womens' Experience of Maternity Care from a convenience sample of women receiving PHMC (n = 357) and SHC (n = 202) from a large metropolitan health service. FINDINGS: Overall, more women receiving PHMC experienced key aspects of women-centered care-choice, control and continuity than women receiving SHC. KEY CONCLUSIONS: This study, within the limitations of its design and sample size, confirms that low risk women have positively responded to partnership caseload midwifery practice, and the practice model has supported women-centred care with special benefits for primipara women.

Assessment of health, well-being and social connections: a survey of women living in Western Sydney.

Strengthening the physical and social environment has been shown to support health and strengthen community action for health. In an attempt to improve the social factors that influence the health of individuals and the community, community interventions increasingly include strategies to build networks and social capital and develop resilience. This study was undertaken to identify the most appropriate strategies to strengthen friendships and the social support networks for women aged 18-39 years living in Villawood, an area of high disadvantage in South Western Sydney, Australia. Although the majority reported positively on their health, one-third reported feeling isolated, experienced low energy levels and felt unhappy and anxious over the past month. Women who described themselves as unemployed felt more isolated than women in home duties. Women who were employed or engaged in home duties had more contact with neighbours, and had more in common with their neighbours. Those who reported more contact with their neighbours perceived their mental health level as being higher. These results indicate that community development initiatives should include consultation with the community and consider the needs of socially isolated groups and those with the poorest health status.

Risk factors for an untoward medication event among elders in community-based nursing caseloads in Australia.

This study sought to develop and test a set of criteria to distinguish elders at high risk of an untoward medication event within community nursing caseloads. A descriptive correlational design was used to identify relevant risk factors for elders. Data on medication knowledge, regime, management abilities, and adherence were obtained from 111 elders receiving community nursing care. Four predictors--12 or more doses of medications per day, more than one prescriber, caregiver available, and sometimes forgetting to take medications--of complexity (R2 explaining 39% of the variance) and adherence (R2 explaining 49% of the variance) were identified as potential factors that subsequently confirmed a discrete group of high risk elders. The use of these four risk factors or screening criteria is recommended for older people within community nursing caseloads.

A comparison of the outcomes of partnership caseload midwifery and standard hospital care in low risk mothers.

BACKGROUND: Maternal and infant clinical outcomes were compared for low risk mothers receiving a partnership caseload model of midwifery care, known as Primary Health Midwifery Care (PHMC), and standard hospital care (SHC). METHODS: Using secondary analysis of data from the Obstet Data System routine collection (PHMC n=976, SHC n=976) from a large metropolitan hospital, maternal and infant clinical outcomes were examined. RESULTS: Odds ratios (OR) demonstrated reduced rates of interventions for multiparous women (OR 0.62 [CI 0.49-0.80]), with multiparous women receiving PHMC being more likely to have a normal delivery (OR 1.75 [CI 1.22-2.5]). A higher proportion of both primiparous and multiparous women receiving PHMC received pethidine during labour (OR 1.78 [1.33-2.39], OR 1.55 [1.19-2.01] respectively). Primiparous women receiving PHMC underwent fewer episiotomies with an associated increase in the proportion of women experiencing perineal tears (OR 1.93, CI 2.35-2.78), although perineum trauma rates were similar for both care models. Similar and very small numbers of infants in both parity groups and care models had an Apgar of less than seven at five minutes or were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit or special care unit. CONCLUSION: This study, within the limitations of its design, supports the safety of the partnership caseload midwifery care model, in addition to reduced rates of interventions experienced by multiparous women and fewer episiotomies in primiparous low risk English-speaking women receiving caseload care.

A nursing intervention for the quality use of medicines by elderly community clients.

Although considerable research and development work has been undertaken on the role of General Practitioners (GPs) and pharmacists in medication management, monitoring and referral, there is limited research into a role in medication management for community nurses. One hundred and thirteen older people living at home and receiving community nursing care were assessed for their knowledge of, and ability to manage their medication regimen. From these data, a nurse-initiated intervention was developed that included nursing interventions and referral pathways to GPs for people who might benefit from a GP and/or pharmacist medication review. A subgroup of 24 participants with diminished knowledge of medications or ability to manage their regime (considered to be at risk of drug-related problems) who were followed up, demonstrated an increase in knowledge, some alteration in compliance aids and with no statistically significant change in medication regime complexity. This paper details an approach to medication review and intervention suitable for community nurses that includes referral pathways within the medication team.

Comprehensive measurement of maternal satisfaction: the modified Mason Survey.

A three-stage process was undertaken to identify and modify a tool that was capable of measuring the many aspects of maternal satisfaction relevant to Australian women. First, the scope of maternal satisfaction to be measured was defined by summarizing available literature and surveys purporting to measure maternal satisfaction (including surveys used in maternity services in New South Wales). The multidimensional nature of maternal satisfaction was confirmed, with 16 core aspects (common to the literature and local surveys) and nine additional unique aspects of maternal satisfaction being identified. Second, these core and additional aspects were used to examine the comprehensiveness of the Mason Survey, a survey recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia for use in maternity services. Eighty-eight per cent of the core and additional aspects (22/25) were found to be present in the Mason Survey. Third, an expert panel further modified the Mason Survey by removing items not applicable to the Australian context. The modified Mason Survey is a comprehensive measure of maternal satisfaction suitable for Australian women and capable of providing valuable information on the quality of services and future planning for maternity services.