Today our topic of discussion is Nurses Role in Admission.
Nurses Role in Admission
Admission to an acute hospital may be planned (elective) or may be required as a matter of urgency (emergency). Elective admissions are those which occur as a consequence of referral to hospital by a general practitioner, medical consultant, a visit to the hospital outpatient department or a planned transfer from another hospital.
Some patients may confound these definitions, e.g. patients requiring chemotherapy who may be both urgent and planned. A number of principles should underpin the development of an effective emergency and elective admissions and discharge planning function.
These include:
- The provision of patient centered services, which are accessible to the population without compromising safety, quality and clinical standards, to the right people in the right location and at the right time
- Patients should be consulted and included in all decisions about their care
- Clinical practice and care should be based on the most up to date evidence
- Cooperation and clinical networking between hospitals and between care groups are essential to optimize outcomes, particularly where complex care issues are involved
- A service based on good clinical governance (1.c. founded on continuous quality improvement, staff development, risk management and audit)
- Acute hospital services should be organized into three parallel streams of care interdependent of each other. This involves a division of acute hospital services into emergency, elective and out patients department/day care
- The pivotal role of the Primary Care Teams should be emphasized . Early induction training of healthcare professionals in relation to the principles set out above.
- The effective management of hospital beds and associated resources is vital if the growing demand placed on hospital resources is to be met. Recognized impediments to patient “flow” in hospitals include:.
- Difficulties in gaining access to inpatient beds (i.e. insufficient bed capacity)
- The resulting congestion within Emergency Depart- ments
Inappropriate retention of patients in hospital beds. To ensure that all patients admitted to hospital receive the high quality and safe service to which they are entitled, resources must be efficiently and effectively utilized.
Services are organized so that patients, depending on their needs, can move smoothly between emergency care and the best and most appropriate inpatient care, primary care and continuing care.
Effective quality assurance and safe care are essential rights of all users of the health services. Achieving the standards set by the Irish Health Services Accreditation Board will ensure that all hospitals are providing such care.
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