Barbara O'Neill

Occupational injury risk among Australian paramedics: an analysis of national data

Objective: To identify the occupational risks for Australian paramedics, by describing the rate of injuries and fatalities and comparing those rates with other reports.

Managing the deteriorating nursing home resident after the introduction of a hospital avoidance programme: a nursing perspective

BACKGROUND Hospital avoidance programmes aim to reduce the number of emergency transfers from nursing homes to hospitals and facilitate early discharge for hospitalised residents. Nursing staff are at the forefront of these efforts, yet little is known about how the programmes affect them and their management of the deteriorating resident. This information is needed to inform hospital avoidance programmes and better understand their work. AIM To examine nursing home nursing staff perceptions regarding their management of the deteriorating resident after the introduction of a hospital avoidance programme. METHODS A thematic analysis was conducted of focus group data collected from nursing staff 14 to 15 months after the introduction of a pilot hospital avoidance programme at an Australian nursing home. FINDINGS The programme was well received and filled a gap in nursing staff management of residents with deteriorating health by providing structure and support. Staff were more confident and focused on this area of their work. Nursing assistants felt more integrated into the system and were supported and learning from nurses. Workload remained heavy and there was a shift in how time was allocated, but nursing staff preferred to keep residents at the facility. CONCLUSION Nursing staff welcomed the programme and benefitted from its implementation. However, strategies must be explored to accommodate the staffing needs associated with providing emergency and subacute care in the nursing home setting.

Violence against emergency medical services personnel: A systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND Violence against emergency medical services (EMS) personnel is a growing concern. The aim of this systematic review is to synthesize the current literature on violence against EMS personnel. METHODS We examined literature from 2000 to 2016. Eligibility criteria included English-language, peer-reviewed studies of EMS personnel that described violence or assaults. Sixteen searches identified 2655 studies; 25 studies from nine countries met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS The evidence from this review demonstrates that violence is a common risk for EMS personnel. We identified three critical topic areas: changes in risk over time, economic impact of violence and, outcomes of risk-reduction interventions. There is a lack of peer reviewed research of interventions, with the result that current intervention programs have no reliable evidence base. CONCLUSIONS EMS leaders and personnel should work together with researchers to design, implement, evaluate and publish intervention studies designed to mitigate risks of violence to EMS personnel.

Mask-Ed: Breaking the Barrier of Fear of Intimate Care for Nursing Students

BACKGROUND Nursing students learn to toilet, shower, and dress patients in the clinical laboratory with simulation modalities that lack the realism necessary to address the fears, values, and beliefs of nudity and intimate contact with patients. METHOD A high-fidelity Mask-Ed™ (KRS [Knowledgeable, Realistic, Spontaneous] simulation) intervention was developed and piloted with first-year nursing students around patient showering to increase confidence and skills around intimate care. RESULTS Students initially felt intimidated, awkward, nervous, and anxious about showering patients; however, after the Mask-Ed simulation, 93% reported feeling more confident and having insight into the patient experience. The realism of the scenario was a contributing factor. CONCLUSION Mask-Ed provides a platform for the educator to create realistic scenarios around intimate care that help students prepare, on many levels, for their initial clinical experiences. [J Nurs Educ. 2017;56(9):572-574.].