Leanne Maree Aitken

A comparison of novice and expert nurses' cue collection during clinical decision-making: Verbal protocol analysis

BACKGROUND The type of cues used during clinical decision-making contexts is not well understood. Further, there are conflicting findings in relation to how novice and expert nurses use cues. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine if there were differences between novice and expert nurses in the range and type of cues selected as well as how cues were clustered together when making clinical decisions while caring for post-operative patients in an Intensive Care Unit. METHOD The sample consisted of four novice and four expert nurses caring for patients post Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm surgery in an Intensive Care Unit. Data were collected using a think aloud (TA) process while participants cared for patients, followed by retrospective interviewing, to generate verbal protocols. The verbal protocols were analysed using content analysis to examine various aspects of decision-making, including number and type of cues used and cue clustering. The decision tasks attended in the real world of practice were described in detail to illuminate the use of cues in context. RESULTS Expert nurses collected a wider range of cues than novice nurses, almost twice as many different cues. The expert nurses also clustered more cues together to identify patient status when making decisions. Expert nurses were more proactive in collecting relevant cues and anticipating problems that may help identify patient problems. CONCLUSIONS In the real world of practice expert nurses collect a broader range of cues to assess patient status than novice nurses. This differs to expert nurses cue collection in simulations where expert nurses may select only those cues that are necessary for the identified problem. This difference, if identified in other studies, may have important implications for nursing research and education.

The effect of a short one-on-one nursing intervention on knowledge, attitudes and beliefs related to response to acute coronary syndrome in people with coronary heart disease: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND Coronary heart disease (CHD) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remain significant public health problems. The effect of ACS on mortality and morbidity is largely dependent on the time from symptom onset to the time of reperfusion, but patient delay in presenting for treatment is the main reason timely reperfusion is not received. OBJECTIVES We tested the effect of an education and counseling intervention on knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about ACS symptoms and the appropriate response to symptoms, and identified patient characteristics associated with changes in knowledge, attitudes and beliefs over time. METHODS We conducted a two-group randomized controlled trial in 3522 people with CHD. The intervention group received a 40 min, one-on-one education and counseling session. The control group received usual care. Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs were measured at baseline, 3 and 12 months using the ACS Response Index and analyzed with repeated measures analysis of variance. RESULTS Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs scores increased significantly from baseline in the intervention group compared to the control group at 3 months, and these differences were sustained at 12 months (p=.0005 for all). Higher perceived control over cardiac illness was associated with more positive attitudes (p<.0005) and higher state anxiety was associated with lower levels of knowledge (p<.05), attitudes (p<.05) and beliefs (p<.0005). CONCLUSION A relatively short education and counseling intervention increased knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about ACS and response to ACS symptoms in individuals with CHD. Higher perceived control over cardiac illness was associated with more positive attitudes and higher state anxiety was associated with lower levels of knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about responding to the health threat of possible ACS.

Characteristics and outcomes of injured older adults after hospital admission.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the seriously injured adult population aged 65 and older; compare the differences in injury characteristics and outcomes in three subgroups aged 65 to 74, 75 to 84, and 85 and older; and identify predictors of death, complications, and hospital discharge destination.

Nursing: A stepping stone to future careers

Objective: To identify the range of positions to which registered nurses moved when they left the profession and to explore the perceptions of respondents about the skills and experiences gained from performing nursing work. Background Data: Many nurses do not remain employed in nursing positions for the duration of their working life. This pattern of career change has been seen in many countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. Methods: A mailed questionnaire was completed by respondents who had left nursing. This questionnaire covered demographic information, the industry and role in which respondents were currently working, ease of adjustment to the current industry and role, perceptions of the skills they had gained from nursing, reasons for becoming a nurse, and reasons they left nursing. Results: Many respondents moved to management positions outside the health industry, and most undertook additional study after leaving nursing. In addition, few identified difficulties in adapting to non-nursing employment, and most agreed that their nursing skills and experiences had assisted them in attaining these positions. Conclusions: The findings are reassuring that employment as a nurse provides invaluable skills for a range of employment prospects should an individual wish to change careers.

Sample size: how many is enough?

Sample size is an element of research design that significantly affects the validity and clinical relevance of the findings identified in research studies. Factors that influence sample size include the effect size, or difference expected between groups or time points, the homogeneity of the study participants, the risk of error that investigators consider acceptable and the rate of participant attrition expected during the study. Appropriate planning in regard to each of these elements optimises the likelihood of finding an important result that is both clinically and statistically meaningful.

Thinking Aloud: Data Collection in the Natural Setting

Knowledge of how nurses make decisions is a desirable outcome of research. However, there currently exists an inadequacy in the techniques used to examine such decision making. In this article, the authors describe the techniques used in two studies incorporating “thinking aloud” to successfully examine the decision making of expert critical care practitioners in the natural setting. Both techniques of thinking aloud were found to provide useful information regarding decision making in the natural setting. No ethical implications were experienced in conducting these studies in the natural setting. In conclusion, the use of thinking aloud in the natural setting is an effective means of data collection.

Long‐term outcomes of seriously injured children: A study using the Child Health Questionnaire

Objective:  To assess the health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) in children 1–2 years after they had sustained an injury.

The use of diaries in psychological recovery from intensive care

Intensive care patients frequently experience memory loss, nightmares, and delusional memories and some may develop symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress. The use of diaries is emerging as a putative tool to ‘fill the memory gaps’ and promote psychological recovery. In this review, we critically analyze the available literature regarding the use and impact of diaries for intensive care patients specifically to examine the impact of diaries on intensive care patients’ recovery. Diversity of practice in regard to the structure, content, and process elements of diaries for intensive care patients exists and emphasizes the lack of an underpinning psychological conceptualization. The use of diaries as an intervention to aid psychological recovery in intensive care patients has been examined in 11 studies, including two randomized controlled trials. Inconsistencies exist in sample characteristics, study outcomes, study methods, and the diary intervention itself, limiting the amount of comparison that is possible between studies. Measurement of the impact of the diary intervention on patient outcomes has been limited in both scope and time frame. Furthermore, an underpinning conceptualization or rationale for diaries as an intervention has not been articulated or tested. Given these significant limitations, although findings tend to be positive, implementation as routine clinical practice should not occur until a body of evidence is developed to inform methodological considerations and confirm proposed benefits.

Nursing considerations to complement the Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines

Objectives:To provide a series of recommendations based on the best available evidence to guide clinicians providing nursing care to patients with severe sepsis. Design:Modified Delphi method involving international experts and key individuals in subgroup work and electronic-based discussion among the entire group to achieve consensus. Methods:We used the Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines as a framework to inform the structure and content of these guidelines. We used the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system to rate the quality of evidence from high (A) to very low (D) and to determine the strength of recommendations, with grade 1 indicating clear benefit in the septic population and grade 2 indicating less confidence in the benefits in the septic population. In areas without complete agreement between all authors, a process of electronic discussion of all evidence was undertaken until consensus was reached. This process was conducted independently of any funding. Results:Sixty-three recommendations relating to the nursing care of severe sepsis patients are made. Prevention recommendations relate to education, accountability, surveillance of nosocomial infections, hand hygiene, and prevention of respiratory, central line-related, surgical site, and urinary tract infections, whereas infection management recommendations related to both control of the infection source and transmission-based precautions. Recommendations related to initial resuscitation include improved recognition of the deteriorating patient, diagnosis of severe sepsis, seeking further assistance, and initiating early resuscitation measures. Important elements of hemodynamic support relate to improving both tissue oxygenation and macrocirculation. Recommendations related to supportive nursing care incorporate aspects of nutrition, mouth and eye care, and pressure ulcer prevention and management. Pediatric recommendations relate to the use of antibiotics, steroids, vasopressors and inotropes, fluid resuscitation, sedation and analgesia, and the role of therapeutic end points. Conclusion:Consensus was reached regarding many aspects of nursing care of the severe sepsis patient. Despite this, there is an urgent need for further evidence to better inform this area of critical care.

Creating an environment to implement and sustain evidence based practice: A developmental process

BACKGROUND Elements of evidence based practice (EBP) are well described in the literature and achievement of EBP is frequently being cited as an organisational goal. Despite this, the practical processes and resources for achieving EBP are often not readily apparent, available or successful. PURPOSE To describe a multi-dimensional EBP program designed to incorporate evidence into practice to lead to sustainable improvement in patient care and ultimately patient outcome. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES A multi-dimensional EBP program incorporating EBP champions and mentors, provision of resources, creation of a culture to foster EBP and use of practical EBP strategies was implemented in a 22-bed intensive care unit (ICU) in a public, tertiary hospital in Brisbane, Australia. The practical EBP strategies included workgroups, journal club and nursing rounds. ACHIEVEMENTS The multi-dimensional EBP program has been successfully implemented over the past three years. EBP champions and mentors are now active and two EBP workgroups have investigated specific aspects of practice, with one of these resulting in development of an associated research project. Journal club is a routine component of the education days that all ICU nurses attend. Nursing rounds is now conducted twice a week, with between one and seven short-term issues identified for each patient reviewed in the first 12 months. CONCLUSIONS A multi-dimensional program of practice change has been implemented in one setting and is providing a forum for discussion of practice-related issues and improvements. Adaptation of these strategies to multiple different health care settings is possible, with the potential for sustained practice change and improvement.