Resuscitation in Rural Australia: Understanding the landscape
Tracks
Concurrent Stream 3
| Friday, October 18, 2024 |
| 12:00 PM - 12:20 PM |
| Corinthian Room |
Overview
Katherine Riley
Speaker
Ms Katherine Riley
Lecturer
University of Wollongong
Resuscitation in Rural Australia: Understanding the landscape.
12:00 PM - 12:20 PMAbstract
Background
Recognition and response to acute deterioration requires access to skilled clinicians. Rural nurses play a vital role as first responders, often being the sole onsite health professionals to provide timely interventions. Consequently, during resuscitations they must possess diverse skills to undertake autonomous and advanced clinical roles; while embodying professional attributes of resilience, adaptability, creativity, and innovation in low-resource environments. This study aimed to examine the resuscitation experiences and practices of rural nurses utilising a cultural lens.
Methods
This ethnographic study involved 10 months of fieldwork across two small rural emergency departments (EDs), one in a MMM 4 area and the other in a MMM 5 area. Both ED’s had Level 2 delineated emergency services. The methods included observation of and interviews with rural nurses. Reflective thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.
Results
Rural nurses' resuscitative practices and experiences are multifaceted and complex, significantly influenced by factors such as chronic staff shortages, access to contextually relevant training and education, the presence or absence of onsite medical officers, and health policies and processes. Due to limited staffing and increased autonomy, rural nurses often experience a higher cognitive load during resuscitations. This environment contributes to delayed novice periods for new nurses, where low resuscitation presentations hinder the acquisition of their clinical competence, emphasising the need for additional support and training in rural healthcare settings.
Rural Implications
Addressing professional isolation is crucial for overcoming the challenges rural nurses experience during resuscitations. This will involve developing stronger professional networks, improving telemedicine processes, and prioritising access to education and training. These efforts are essential to enhance rural nurses' resuscitative practices and skills, improve patient outcomes, and support the sustainability of rural healthcare services.
Recognition and response to acute deterioration requires access to skilled clinicians. Rural nurses play a vital role as first responders, often being the sole onsite health professionals to provide timely interventions. Consequently, during resuscitations they must possess diverse skills to undertake autonomous and advanced clinical roles; while embodying professional attributes of resilience, adaptability, creativity, and innovation in low-resource environments. This study aimed to examine the resuscitation experiences and practices of rural nurses utilising a cultural lens.
Methods
This ethnographic study involved 10 months of fieldwork across two small rural emergency departments (EDs), one in a MMM 4 area and the other in a MMM 5 area. Both ED’s had Level 2 delineated emergency services. The methods included observation of and interviews with rural nurses. Reflective thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.
Results
Rural nurses' resuscitative practices and experiences are multifaceted and complex, significantly influenced by factors such as chronic staff shortages, access to contextually relevant training and education, the presence or absence of onsite medical officers, and health policies and processes. Due to limited staffing and increased autonomy, rural nurses often experience a higher cognitive load during resuscitations. This environment contributes to delayed novice periods for new nurses, where low resuscitation presentations hinder the acquisition of their clinical competence, emphasising the need for additional support and training in rural healthcare settings.
Rural Implications
Addressing professional isolation is crucial for overcoming the challenges rural nurses experience during resuscitations. This will involve developing stronger professional networks, improving telemedicine processes, and prioritising access to education and training. These efforts are essential to enhance rural nurses' resuscitative practices and skills, improve patient outcomes, and support the sustainability of rural healthcare services.
Biography
Katherine is a lecturer in nursing at the University of Wollongong and in the final phase of a doctoral degree, that explores the nuanced experiences of rural nurses in resuscitation. Katherine's research focuses critical aspects of rural emergency care and enhancing the resuscitation care provided by rural nurses.
