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C Andrewes

Publications and source records attributed to C Andrewes.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Exploring the expanded role of nurses in critical care.

This paper reports on a small research study that explored the perceptions of staff in an intensive/coronary/high-dependency care unit on the expanded role of nurses in critical care. The research was undertaken in two phases. In the first phase, focus groups and interviews of nursing and medical staff were used as methods to explore their perceptions. Data were analysed by thematic content analysis and generated four categories: specialized skills; maintaining competence; how far nurses can go; and training and education. Using verbatim examples from the participants, these categories are described. In summary, it was found that both doctors and nurses were in favour of nursing role developments, and for the nurses this was driven by their desire to meet the patients' needs. In a smaller second phase, a questionnaire was developed based on information gained in the first phase. It was utilized to seek the views of all the nursing staff on specific role-expansion activities. Findings revealed substantial support for developing the role of critical care nurses in a number of activities: cannulation; venepuncture; ordering blood tests and X-rays; performing physiotherapy; inserting arterial lines; performing elective cardioversion; thrombolysis treatment and intubation. This research study has yielded important information. However, it is recognized that, whilst these roles may be new to this particular critical care unit, there are many other units where they may already be common practice. Whenever new roles are developed, it is important to evaluate their effectiveness in measurable terms and regular audit is advisable. Further research is therefore recommended on both the development and evaluation of new roles in critical care.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1999

Investigating and implementing change within the primary health care nursing team.

Primary care is developing rapidly with significant impacts on the nursing team. Such changes have brought inter-professional team-working into sharper focus, particularly community care and collaborative working. This paper: examines the nursing roles within a general practice; describes the perspectives of service users; identifies areas of change; clarifies core and specialist skills; defines new roles among the primary health care nursing team; proposes a new model of working; and identifies appropriate education. The project was set in a general practice in south-west England and used an action research methodology. The objectives were to create a change in practice and to develop and refine existing theory to underpin nursing roles. Throughout the research regular team meetings allowed reflection and discussion about research findings and progress. Data were collected from multiple sources, including team workshops, patient focus group interviews, and individual interviews with GPs, practice managers and area managers. Reflective diaries and a patient survey were also used. The analysis of the quantitative and qualitative data collected from patients formed a basis for practice development and facilitated the team's reflection on the areas of change. Overall high satisfaction with services and care was expressed in the patient interviews and the questionnaire. The themes from the data highlighted areas important for patients and helped in shaping the new roles and responsibilities for team members. Regarding the team perspective, the data indicated many areas that could be considered for development. The community nursing team decided to concentrate on three key areas: child health, leg ulcer management, and cardiovascular health. The research concludes that action research presents some problems and challenges but is a useful approach to developing team-working in primary health care.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Health care support workers in the critical care setting.

The 1999/2000 winter demands on the NHS have once again highlighted deficits in UK critical care provision (Daily Telegraph, 2000; London Evening Standard, 2000) Recent years have seen the development of the role of health care support workers in the NHS; some critical care units now employ health care support workers This research examined the views of critical care unit staff on the introduction of health care support workers into the critical care unit It is concluded that the role is viable within the setting of this study A framework is outlined that could form the basis for a critical care health care support worker training programme

Attitude of Health Personnel↗