Exploring the disaster content of postgraduate emergency nursing courses in Australia

Jamie RanseLecturerDisciplines of Nursing and MidwiferyFaculty of Health University of Canberra

Phone: +61 (0)2 6201 5380Fax: +61 (0)2 6201 5128Email: jamie.ranse@canberra.edu.au Blog: www.jamieranse.comTwitter: jamieranse

research team

Mr Jamie Ranse1,2

Prof Paul Arbon2

Mr Ramon Shaban3,4

Dr Julie Considine5,6

Ms Belinda Mitchell5,6

Mr Shane Lenson7

1. University of Canberra2. Flinders University3. Griffith University 4. Princess Alexandra Hospital 5. Deakin University6. Northern Health7. Royal College of Nursing, Australia

Acknowledgements Ben Morley Scholarship (CENA)Participants

overview

• Background• Aims• Methods • Results• Discussion

background

• Non-consistent• National framework• Workplace based training• ED workforce (post-graduate qualifications)

aims

This research aims to describe the disaster content in post-graduate emergency nursing programs in Australia

methods

• Post-graduate • Emergency nursing programs in 2009• Structured telephone interviews• Course convenors

results

Courses overview• 12 Universities:

• 10 Graduate Certificate• 6 Graduate Diploma• 6 Masters

Participants• 10 participants

results: demographics

Gender• 10 Female (100%)

Age• 42yrs (30 – 53)

Post-graduate education• Disaster: Nil• Other disaster education: 4 (40%)• Education / teaching: 4 (40%)• Other education: 10 (100%)

results: demographics

Education• General: 9.4yrs (1 – 20)• Convenor: 2.1yrs (1 – 3)

Nursing experience• General nursing: 19yrs (9 – 24)• Emergency nursing: 13yrs (1 – 21)

Other professional experience • Military: 2 (20%)• Pre-hospital: Nil

results: demographics

Previous disaster experience• Yes: 3 (30%)• No: 7 (70%)

Type of disaster• Bushfire related• Clinical facility evacuation• Defence

results: course content overview

Graduates• 32 per year, per course (9 – 80)

Course delivery• Face-to-face, online, blended and self-directed

Content related to disasters• Yes: 7 (70%)• No: 3 (30%)

results: disaster content overview

Elements of disaster content in courses:Community and public health responsePre-hospital responseHospital responseDisaster triageSustainabilityDisaster exercisesIncident systemsNursing role in disasterCommunications TechniquesManagement of the dead and dyingDisaster plansRole of other organisations in disaster responseMental health in relation to disastersPopulations with specific needsTypes of disastersExamples of disastersHealth effects of disasters

results: disaster content overview

Learning outcomes related to disasters:• Yes: 3

• Implication of disaster management at local, state and national level • Definition of disaster• New challenges• ED role • Nurses role

• No: 4

Assessment items related to disasters:• Yes: 1• No: 6

results: disaster content overview

Who delivers the content?• Course Convenor (6)• Expert (5)• Clinician (2)

Disaster content delivery• Lecture / seminar (4)• Tutorial (2)• Online (1)• Table-top (1)• Triage exercise (1)

results: disaster content clarification

(1. strongly disagree, 2. disagree, 3. no opinion, 4. agree, 5. strongly agree)

Real world disasters are a likely scenario for students in this course: 4.3

Disaster content is important in post-graduate emergency nursing: 4.6

More time should be more focus on disaster content: 3.6

More time should be spent discussing disasters: 3.7

results: disaster content modification

Course last modified

Mean: 1 yr ago (0 – 4)

Modification related to disasters• Yes: 5 (50%)• No: 5 (50%)

Type of modification• Pandemic / Terrorism• Online• Different speakers

discussion

• Variation in post-graduate emergency programs• Disaster not discussed in all programs• Disaster content varied in all programs• Disaster content considered important for nurses• National framework and consistency

Exploring the disaster content of postgraduate emergency nursing courses in Australia

Jamie RanseLecturerDisciplines of Nursing and MidwiferyFaculty of Health University of Canberra

Phone: +61 (0)2 6201 5380Fax: +61 (0)2 6201 5128Email: jamie.ranse@canberra.edu.au Blog: www.jamieranse.comTwitter: jamieranse