TY - JOUR
T1 - Increasing the profile of the care of the older person in the ED : a contemporary nursing challenge
AU - Shanley, Chris
AU - Sutherland, Sharon
AU - Stott, Katrina
AU - Tumeth, Robyn
AU - Whitmore, Elizabeth
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - The numbers of frail older persons using emergency departments are already considerable and will continue to increase over time. There are a number of issues related to the assessment and care of older patients that are significantly different to other patient groups. The traditional emergency department (ED) model focusing on rapid triage, treatment and throughput does not meet the needs of many older patients, who have complex presentations, and require comprehensive assessment and referral. In response to this, there are already a number of appropriate and innovative approaches to the care of the older patient demonstrated in the literature. Nurses have a crucial role in contributing to these approaches and in raising the profile of quality care of the older person. Some specific areas that ED nurses can focus on include a more comprehensive approach to assessment and discharge planning, improved communication with the patient and their personal carers, attention to basic nursing care, and making the physical environment safer and less stressful for the older patient. While developing collaborations with their aged care nursing colleagues is important, emergency nurses need to view care of the older person as a central part of their own core business.
AB - The numbers of frail older persons using emergency departments are already considerable and will continue to increase over time. There are a number of issues related to the assessment and care of older patients that are significantly different to other patient groups. The traditional emergency department (ED) model focusing on rapid triage, treatment and throughput does not meet the needs of many older patients, who have complex presentations, and require comprehensive assessment and referral. In response to this, there are already a number of appropriate and innovative approaches to the care of the older patient demonstrated in the literature. Nurses have a crucial role in contributing to these approaches and in raising the profile of quality care of the older person. Some specific areas that ED nurses can focus on include a more comprehensive approach to assessment and discharge planning, improved communication with the patient and their personal carers, attention to basic nursing care, and making the physical environment safer and less stressful for the older patient. While developing collaborations with their aged care nursing colleagues is important, emergency nurses need to view care of the older person as a central part of their own core business.
KW - aged care
KW - emergency departments
KW - nurses
KW - patients
UR - http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/uws:35427
U2 - 10.1016/j.ienj.2008.05.005
DO - 10.1016/j.ienj.2008.05.005
M3 - Article
SN - 1755-599X
VL - 16
SP - 152
EP - 158
JO - International Emergency Nursing
JF - International Emergency Nursing
IS - 3
ER -