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Emergency nurses' knowledge and self-rated practice skills when caring for older patients in the emergency department

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dc.contributor.authorRawson, H.
dc.contributor.authorBennett, P.N.
dc.contributor.authorOckerby, C.
dc.contributor.authorHutchinson, A.M.
dc.contributor.authorConsidine, J.
dc.date.issued2017
dc.description.abstractBackground 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.
dc.identifier.citationAustralasian Emergency Care, 2017; 20(4):174-180
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.aenj.2017.08.001
dc.identifier.issn1574-6267
dc.identifier.issn1839-2776
dc.identifier.orcidBennett, P.N. [0000-0001-9174-3499]
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/11541.2/144991
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherElsevier
dc.relation.fundingDeakin University
dc.rightsCopyright 2017 College of Emergency Nursing Australasia
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.aenj.2017.08.001
dc.subjectemergency nursing
dc.subjectemergency service
dc.subjectaged
dc.subjectelderly
dc.subjectgeriatric nursing
dc.subjecthealthcare delivery
dc.subjectHumans
dc.subjectCross-Sectional Studies
dc.subjectHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
dc.subjectClinical Competence
dc.subjectAdult
dc.subjectMiddle Aged
dc.subjectEmergency Service, Hospital
dc.subjectAustralia
dc.subjectFemale
dc.subjectMale
dc.subjectSelf Report
dc.subjectSurveys and Questionnaires
dc.titleEmergency nurses' knowledge and self-rated practice skills when caring for older patients in the emergency department
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished
ror.mmsid9916457806801831

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