Acute Medicine Nurses facilitating Patient Flow – A National Unscheduled Care Clinical Skills and Competencies Education Programme

Abstract

Context: Acute medicine nursing is an emerging discipline within unscheduled care. To September 2016 73,175 patients registered in Ireland's acute medicine units, of which 26,830 (36.7%) were admitted to acute medical short stay or specialist wards, or discharged on the same day (n=46,345 / 63.3%). Nursing staff in these units (560) An education needs assessment to determine baseline knowledge, skills and competencies of nurses in these units a national survey was undertaken.All 32 hospitals were surveyed. A similar assessment was conducted amongst ED nursesThe survey instrument was designed based on a Developmental Framework for Nursing Skills and Competencies in AMAUs, MAUs and MSSUs which was co-designed with the Acute Medicine Nurse Interest Group (AMNIG) and which identified the skills and competencies required of acute medicine nurses at core, specialist, enhanced/advanced levels. Outcome/Results: A 100% response rate was achieved. Hospitals were asked to provide information on numbers of nurses trained in a skill; those currently using the skill; and nurses requiring training in the skill. Demographics were captured in Section 1. Responses to, clinical skills and competencies needs (Section 2), were analysed using six broad categories. Results will be presented.