Abstract | OBJECTIVE: Many patients present to emergency departments (EDs) for wounds that require repair by suturing. This study looked at ascertaining the efficacy of Advanced Clinical Nurses' ( ACN) suturing dermal lacerations in tertiary, regional and rural ED settings. DESIGN: Convenience sample; prospective questionnaire. SETTING: Three mixed adult and paediatric EDs. These departments were tertiary, regional and rural regional EDs. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty patients requiring sutures for dermal lacerations that were repaired by an ACN. Of them 24 were men and seven were women. Mean age was 40.5 years, with a range of 21-58 years. Ten results from rural ED; six from regional ED; 15 from tertiary ED. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Any differences between suturing standards in rural, regional and tertiary EDs; clinical results of suturing performed by ACNs; local medical officers' satisfaction with wound repair. RESULTS: A total of 31 responses were received. The lacerations were located on the face in 13 patients (42%), the scalp in 10 (32%), an extremity in 2 (6%), and on the trunk in 6 (20%). A total of 196 sutures were required. Local medical officers graded wound repair as 'good' in 24 cases (77%) and adequate in seven cases (23%). There were no wound healing complications reported. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses who complete a standardised training program in wound management and repair are capable of providing high-quality, definitive care for patients who present to EDs with dermal lacerations. This is true irrespective of whether the Registered Nurse is working in a rural, regional or tertiary ED.
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Authors | Rebekkah Middleton |
Journal | The Australian journal of rural health
(Aust J Rural Health)
Vol. 14
Issue 6
Pg. 258-62
(Dec 2006)
ISSN: 1038-5282 [Print] Australia |
PMID | 17121505
(Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article)
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Topics |
- Adult
- Certification
- Clinical Competence
(standards)
- Education, Nursing, Continuing
(organization & administration)
- Emergency Nursing
(education, organization & administration)
- Emergency Service, Hospital
- Female
- Humans
- Inservice Training
(organization & administration)
- Lacerations
(therapy)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- New South Wales
- Nurse Clinicians
(education, organization & administration)
- Nurse's Role
- Nursing Evaluation Research
- Outcome Assessment, Health Care
- Professional Autonomy
- Prospective Studies
- Surveys and Questionnaires
- Suture Techniques
(nursing)
- Wound Healing
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