Conectar
To report on the findings from a national survey of UK intensive care units (ICUs) exploring nurse staffing models currently in use and changes since COVID-19.
A survey was designed and distributed using a web-based platform to senior unit leads via Intensive care national audit & research centre contacts.
Senior nurses representing the 331 National Health Service adult ICUs across the UK (across 231 hospitals/155 trusts), including the Channel Islands and Isle of Man.
A 15-item survey.
A total of 196 survey responses representing 300 units, majority general and single units, resulting in a 90.6% unit-level response rate. ICU unit characteristics included the average number of total, level 3 and level 2 critical care beds of 26.36 (SD=21.48), 15.67 (SD=15.33) and 10.96 (SD=8.86), respectively. Most units reported nurse to patient ratios compliant with national guidelines and service specifications. Post-COVID-19 changes to ICU nurse staffing establishments were reported by 44% respondents, including increases in non-registered staff. However, limited data were provided regarding decision-making around and changes to bedside allocation of nurses since COVID-19.
Increased numbers and use of non-registered staff within the ICU is indicative of an alternative staffing model to address nursing shortages. However, more research is needed to understand how this staffing group is being used compared with, and alongside, registered nurses.
Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT05917574.
To understand the current capacity and capability for nursing, midwifery and allied health professional (NMAHP) principal investigator roles in England.
Quantitative online survey.
Online national quantitative survey across England analysed using descriptive statistics.
The number of NMAHP PIs in an organisation was unrelated to the size of the NMAHP workforce. NMAHP PIs were more common in non-CTIMP studies. A quarter of organisations had no specific education or support for NMAHP PIs. Most respondents indicated that a national approach to support and training would be helpful.
Having more research-active NMAHPs provides career progression, improved staff retention and improves the evidence base for practice. Having a broader range of CI/PIs allows for more targeted and specialty-specific oversight of research studies and streamlines the acceptance process to allow research to be delivered in a more timely manner.
This will require more collaboration between NMAHP, medical and industry communities to promote a multidisciplinary approach to healthcare research delivery and to ensure that CI/PI roles are fulfilled by the most appropriate person, regardless of their profession.
To ascertain NMAHP capacity and capability for PI research roles. Shows where national and organisational effort should be focused to increase this nationally.
Cross reporting guidance for survey studies was utilised.
No patient or patient contribution.
FreshRSS 