Citation

Duncan J, Brown NJ, Lock C, Trudgett S, Rothwell S, Rosengren D, Hughes JA. J. Nurs. Care Qual. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Emergency and Trauma Centre (Mss Duncan and Lock, Drs Brown and Hughes, and Drs Rothwell and Rosengren) and Occupational Violence Prevention, Operational and Support Services (Mr Trudgett), Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; and Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia (Dr Brown).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000433

PMID

31464847

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Security interventions in aggressive and violent patients in the emergency department (ED) are not always documented in the clinical record, which can compromise the effectiveness of communication, and increase clinical risks. LOCAL PROBLEM: Fewer than half of all security interventions are documented in the clinical record.

METHODS: The study had a pre- and posttest design including a retrospective audit of patient medical records and a staff survey. INTERVENTION: A dedicated sticker, to be completed by nursing and security staff, was placed into the clinical notes as a record of the security intervention.

RESULTS: From 1 month before to 1 month after implementation, the rate of documentation of security interventions in clinical notes increased from 43.3% to 68.8% (P =.01), and was maintained for 3 months after implementation.

CONCLUSIONS: The rate of documentation of ED security interventions in clinical notes can be increased by encouraging clinicians and security staff to collaborate and share documentation responsibilities.

Language: en