An evidence based proposal to develop the advanced clinical practitioner's role into the provision of surgical intervention in regard to abscess management within an ambulatory surgical environment

Robinson, Andrew James (2017) An evidence based proposal to develop the advanced clinical practitioner's role into the provision of surgical intervention in regard to abscess management within an ambulatory surgical environment. Masters dissertation, University of Cumbria. Item availability may be restricted.

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Abstract

The challenges for a continually evolving healthcare service is the sustained provision of evidence based healthcare at the highest level whilst ensuring best use of available resources. Within nursing, the recent expansion of nursing roles into advanced practice has placed senior, experienced nurses at the forefront of healthcare provision. Whilst commonplace in community settings, advanced practice nurses are now taking leading roles within acute healthcare. As advanced nurses, it is our role to recognise areas where practice improvement initiatives would not only benefit patient outcomes but also address the issues around resource management. Recent policy initiatives within acute surgical care have been aimed at managing patients within ambulatory surgical settings. Where prompt assessment and treatment are commenced and concluded to evidence based guidelines. However, a main contributory factor to underachievement within this area has been recognised as surgeon unavailability, especially within minor surgical complaints. With emphasis being placed, quite correctly, on acutely ill patients with surgically managed conditions. The most common presenting condition to the ambulatory surgical department within ****NHS Trust is abscess. Clinical guidelines coherently advice prompt surgical management as an ambulatory condition. Initial investigation into the reason why this cohort of patients are frequently mis-managed concluded that surgeon availability was the main contributing factor. The issue therefore is how to manage this patient group to best practice guidelines, thereby improving health outcomes. Advanced practitioners have not only extensive experience within their speciality but recognised academic assessment and diagnostic qualifications. With surgical specific training, the proposal is to introduce abscess management, both surgically and non-surgically, as a remit of the surgical advanced practitioner within an ambulatory unit. Thereby ensuring adherence to best practice guidelines in the management of abscess. Evaluation would provide direct comparison with clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction rates. Implications for practice being further progression of the advanced nurses remit of practice whilst improving clinical outcomes of the set patient group. Further local studies would be needed to provide succinct evidence of the ability of advanced nurses to provide surgical treatment for set conditions. With revision of job plans to follow.

Item Type:	Thesis/Dissertation (Masters)
Departments:	Academic Departments > Nursing, Health & Professional Practice (NHPP)
Additional Information:	Dissertation submitted in part fulfilment for the MSc Advanced Practice (Clinical).
Depositing User:	Anna Lupton
Date Deposited:	11 Oct 2017 11:20
Last Modified:	12 Jan 2024 18:00
URI:	https://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/3278