The hidden contribution of the health care assistant: a survey-based exploration of support to their role in caring for the acutely ill patient in the general ward setting.

Aim: To examine the feelings, support and feedback available to health care assistants (HCA) when caring for acutely ill ward patients.

Background: The role of the HCA continues to evolve with increased responsibility for patient care. Contextual issues that affect their contribution to acute care management of the ward patient have been given limited attention.

Vital signs for vital people: an exploratory study into the role of the Healthcare Assistant in recognising, recording and responding to the acutely ill patient in the general ward setting.

Aim: To examine the contribution of the Healthcare Assistant (HCA) as the recogniser, responder and recorder of acutely ill patients within the general ward setting.

Background: Concerns have been highlighted regarding the recognition and management of the acutely ill patient within the general ward setting. The contribution of the HCA role to this process has been given limited attention.

The consultant nurse - expert practitioner and much more.

The consultant nurse (CN) role is usually described in terms of four domains devised by the Department of Health - clinical practice, education and training, leadership, and research and service development. This study set out to explicate the diversity and complexity of CN roles in an NHS trust; to describe aspects of extraordinary practice and to identify perceived differences between this role and other advanced practice roles. Accounts were written by six CNs and subjected to concept mapping to facilitate identification of extraordinary practice.

Increasing staff awareness of respiratory rate significance.

Respiratory rate is a significant predictor of critical illness and an important part of early-warning scoring. After an audit of patient records revealed a low incidence of respiratory-rate recording, a hospital-wide education programme was set up to raise awareness and improve critical care skills among ward staff. A repeat audit showed significant improvement in recording rates and identified new areas for training.

Implementing a multidisciplinary approach to comprehensive critical care.

Following recent government recommendations on critical care services, the skills and training opportunities within the critical care environment should be shared with staff on the general wards. This article discusses a one-day study course offered at one NHS trust that was developed to address the educational needs of staff working on general wards.