Query from a nurse in Australia

We have had a query in from a nurse working in Australia, requesting information regarding nursing publications/articles with regard to the Anaesthetic Nurse involvement in peri-operative trauma management.

Below is some further information from Paul. (if you have information that may be of use to this nurse, please contact him at: paulreeves@ozemail.com.au

The development of Nurse Practitioners have come along way over the past 6 years, however this has not been the case with-in the theatre environment. Anaesthetic, Perioperative, and Post Anaesthetic Care Nurses have not been successful in increasing their scope of clinical practice. There has been exploration based on the UK models andthe development of Surgeon's Assistants - but generally it remains quite political.

As for anaesthetic nurses - The Australian & New Zealand Collage of Anaesthetist has made clear position statements that nurses will not be supported in developing their role beyond their current scope. So this remain very political indeed. So the plight of Perioperative nurses continues today with little progress!

Nurse Practitioners has developed well in many other nursing disaplines including Community health care, Mental health, Accident and Emergency...etc.

There is no Anaesthetic Nurse Practitioners in Australia and we may never see Nurse Anaesthetist either!

BJARN

BARNA are very pleased to announce that the first edition of the electronic journal has been published on the CUP website. The first electronic edition of the journal also sports a new cover - its new, its funky and we hope you like it.

If you have issues accessing the online publication, please contact info@barna.co.uk

Emma Stalker - Better Blood Transfusion - Competencies, Expectations and Resources

Qualifying in 1990 as a Registered General Nurse, Emma has gained a range of experience working within Nurse recruitment and education in both the NHS and the private sector.

Emma joined the National Blood Service in 2005 and in her role as Transfusion Liaison Nurse she is supporting clinical colleagues to implement the iniatives within the Health Service Circular 2007/001: Better Blood Transfusion – Appropriate Use of Blood.

Emma is the elected Secretary of both the South East Coast Regional Transfusion Committee (RTC), and the South Coast Transfusion Paractitioner’s Group, and is actively involved in the proactive blood safety projects that the are currently being driven forward in the region.

Session Abstract

Since the inception and implementation of ‘Better Blood Transfusion’, a Health Service Circular first published in 1998 and revised in 2002 and 2007, the focus of the UK Blood Services has been to support clinical colleagues to effectively and competently manage the use of blood and blood products and to help raise awareness of the alternatives to transfusion.

The implementation of national guidelines and recommendations and the introduction of European legislation has had a major impact on the management of the available blood supply and on how we train all staff involved in the transfusion process to use blood and blood products appropriately, safely and competently in day to day practice.

Blood is safer now than it has ever been, but as a consequence it is an expensive and limited resource, and its use is coming under tighter and tighter training and legislative requirements and controls.

This presentation discusses the multiple factors that contribute to the day to day management and appropriate use of blood within the surgical environment, and highlights the potential impact of a national blood shortage.

Illustrated by the rationale, experiences and tools available to all practitioners, this presentation describes the need, within the transfusion process, for education and communication with all those who are employed in the care of the surgical patient from pre admission to discharge.

Biography for Dr David Watson - Surviving Sepsis

I am a Consultant and Senior Lecturer in Intensive Care Medicine at Homerton University Hospital, London and Barts and The London School of Medicine, Queen Mary, University of London. I work in The Centre for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics of The William Harvey Research Institute, Charterhouse Square, London.

This presentation will be presented within the new National Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines. Use the following link to access the pocket guide to the campaign guidelines.

http://www.survivingsepsis.org/system/files/images/2008_20Pocket_20Guides_1_.pdf

Advocacy In Nursing BARNA Conference 2008

Susan Fossum, BSN, RN, CPAN

Sue is the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses’ (ASPAN) Immediate Past President, having just served as ASPAN’s 27^th President. She is employed by the University of California-Davis Medical Center in Sacramento as the Educator/Staff Developer for the Same Day Surgery Center Operating Room and PACU. Her role includes: training and orientation of all new staff (RNs/Surgical Technicians/Hospital Assistants/Clerks); weekly education programs for ongoing equipment training and staff competencies; Co-Chair of the OR Nursing Standards Committee; and Chair of PACU Policy/Procedure Committee. She has conducted clinical perianaesthesia nursing research and is published in the Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing and the Association of Operating Room Nurses Journal. Sue holds a Diploma and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing, and a U.S. based certification in perianaesthesia nursing care. Her nursing advocacy involvement has included both state and national level initiatives.

Joni M. Brady, MSN, RN, CAPA

Joni is the BARNA Committee’s first International Representative. She was born and raised in New York, where she received a nursing diploma. She has earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Sciences, a Master’s Degree in Nursing, and holds a U.S. based certification in ambulatory anaesthesia nursing. Over the past two decades, Joni has lived in Asia, North America, and is currently residing in Germany. She has worked as a perianaesthesia nurse since 1980 with clinical and management experience in all aspects of anaesthetic care delivery, including: preoperative patient screening, education, testing and preparation; conscious sedation administration; and PACU nursing. She has also practiced with a university-based anaesthesia medical group involved in pain treatment research and interventional pain treatment procedures. Joni is the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses’ (ASPAN) Breathline Editor and a member of ASPAN’s Advocacy Strategic Work Team.

Advocacy in Nursing

Abstract:

Nurses are incredible patient advocates. While few nurses shy away from speaking out for patients’ safety, most nurses are hesitant to become actively involved in important professional nursing advocacy issues. This session will explore: the nursing image and perceptions; a definition of advocacy and its importance to nursing; current healthcare challenges, such as the nursing shortage, workplace safety, and nurse fatigue. We will embark upon “The Road to Political Activism” through a discussion on steps to advocacy and some related barriers and myths.

Conference Speaker Biography and Abstract

BARNA Conference 6^th June

Biography

Anne Tibbles commenced her Nurse training in 1976 and has worked mainly in acute hospital care throughout her career. She spent 13 years working in various roles in the Renal Unit at St. Helier Hospital.

For the last 9-10 years she has worked in Nurse Education as a practice educator and as a lecturer in FE and HE. The last 2 years has been spent at Kingston University in Surrey.

Anne has also been a member of the Territorial Army since 1989 and works as a Nursing Officer in this organisation

Abstract of session

Classification of renal failure, prevention and treatment

Learning Outcomes

· To update knowledge of renal A & P and kidney functions

· To understand the classification of renal failure, and how renal failure is staged

· To understand the signs and symptoms of renal failure

· To know how renal failure is prevented, recognised and treated.

This session will briefly revisit renal A & P, and the assessment of renal function.

It will look at a definition of Acute Renal Failure (ARF), and enable some understanding of the signs and symptoms.

The classification of ARF and current staging of CRF will be explained.

The factors that predispose to ARF, how to prevent it happening and how to recognise it and manage it will also be looked at.

Conference Speaker Biography

Mark Radford

Consultant Nurse (Perioperative Emergency Care)
Good Hope Hospital
Heart of England Foundation Trust
Visiting Lecturer in Clinical Nursing – Birmingham City University
President – British Anaesthetic & Recovery Nurses Association

Profile

Mark was appointed as Consultant Nurse in March 2003, after working mainly in the critical and acute care fields. In addition to clinical work, he also managed a project with the NHS Modernisation Agency in emergency care and advanced practice roles.

Mark has been a member of the executive committee for the British Anaesthetic & Recovery Nurses Association (BARNA) since 1997, Chairing the Association from 1999 - 2001. He is currently President of the Association. Mark is the founding editor of the British Journal of Anaesthetic and Recovery Nursing in 1999.

He is currently reading his PhD in sociological perspectives on advanced practice nursing and works as a Visiting Lecturer at the Birmingham City University. Mark and his team publish widely on emergency care and perioperative issues, and has edited a booked entitled ‘Advancing Perioperative Practice. His wife is a GP in Birmingham and has two daughters Eleanor and Isobel. He is a keen mountaineer, with trips to Scotland and European Alps, climbing several 4000 meter peaks including Mont Blanc, Matterhorn, Weissmies and Breithorn.

Mark will be closing the conference this year, he is an inspirational speaker and he has taken the opportunity to introduce himself here. We look forward to meeting you all at conference. Watch this blog for further speaker introductions.