The experiences of nurses in the community setting caring for patients with an interventional radiology drain: An irish perspective

20^th World Congress on Radiology and Oncology

September 26-27, 2018 | Chicago, USA

Rosalind Farrell and Phil Halligan

St Vincents University Hospital, Ireland
University College Dublin, Ireland

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Nucl Med Radiat Ther

Abstract :

Interventional Radiology (IR) is a rapidly expanding specialty within medicine. As a result, a new population of patients has emerged requiring the care of nurses working in the community setting; those discharged home with an IR drain for curative or preventative purposes. The aim of the study was to describe the experiences of nurses in the community caring for patients with an IR drain the following discharge from the acute setting, with the objective of developing a new body of knowledge to enhance a patientâ??s journey as they transition from an IR department to the community. Currently, there are regular queries from the community regarding the care of patients with IR drains leading to increased workload and costs, decreased quality of patient care and hospital readmissions. The study was based on individual interviews analyzed using Colaizzi seven-step framework. Three themes emerged: knowledge gap, information gap, and educational gap. Data findings revealed; a real knowledge deficit of IR and how to care for patients with IR drains, poor discharge summaries and information transfer; and a paucity of education and training in IR and IR drain care. Nurses in the community need to base the care of patients with IR drains upon formal evidence-based practice. The study concluded that nurses in the community are unprepared to care for this patient cohort because of a knowledge deficit, inaccurate and poorly written discharge summaries, and a lack of education and training among nurses and patients; specific recommendations are made to address these issues.

Biography :

E-mail: roz.farrell105@gmail.com