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38

andemic 2A

oncurrent Sessions 2

nderstanding the willingness of Australian emergencyurses to respond to a health care disaster

amie Ranse, Paul Arbona, Ramon Shabanc,ulie Considined, Belinda Mitchell e, Karen Hammada,ynette Cusacka, Mayumi Kakoa, Laura Bahnischa

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Flinders University, GPOox 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, AustraliaEmergency Department, Calvary Health Care, PO Box 254,amison, ACT 2614, AustraliaGriffith Institute for Health and Medical Research andrincess Alexandra Hospital, Logan Campus, Griffith Uni-ersity, Meadowbrook, Qld 4131, AustraliaDeakin University - Northern Health Partnership, Emer-ency Department, The Northern Hospital, 185 Cooper St,pping, Vic 3076, AustraliaNorthern Health, Quality, Safety & Risk Unit, 185 Coopert, Epping, Vic 3076, Australia

-mail addresses: Jamie.ranse@calvary-act.com.auJ. Ranse), r.shaban@griffith.edu.au (R. Shaban),ulie.considine@nh.org.au (J. Considine),elinda.mitchell@nh.org.au (B. Mitchell),aura.bahnisch@flinders.edu.au (L. Bahnisch).

Responding to disasters is hazardous as terrorism, pan-emics and chemical industrial accidents challenge theafety of nurses and their families. International experi-nce has shown that nurses can become victims of disasters,nd that fear of contaminating family and friends may pre-ent nurses from attending work or returning home duringdisaster response. An understanding of the factors that

nable or disable their disaster preparedness will underpinuture disaster policy and planning for Australian health carerganisations.

This study examined the willingness of Australian emer-ency nurses to attend work to respond to a health careisaster, using a 3-phase mixed-method design. Phase 1 isnational online survey. Phase 2 involves focus groups and

hase 3 involves in-depth interviews with emergency nurses.his presentation discusses both the current internationalndings from disaster nursing literature and presents prelim-

nary results from the study on the willingness of Australianmergency nurses to respond to a health care disaster.esults will be of interest to nursing staff, health plannersnd administrators, contributing to the knowledge of disas-er planning and preparedness.

eywords: Disaster planning; Disaster preparedness; Will-ngness; Emergency nurses; Disaster training; Nursingducation; Risk perceptions

oi:10.1016/j.aenj.2010.08.267

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Conference Abstracts

he Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Influenza outbreak in Aus-ralia: The impact on Emergency Departments

erard Joseph, Ramon Shabanb,g,j, Paul Arbonc, Peteritkend, Julie Considinef, Michele Clarke, Julie Finucaneg,ally McCarthyh, Liz Cloughessy i, Kerri Holzhauser j,ennifer Patrickk, Elaine Fieldingk

School of Public Health, Queensland University of Technol-gy, Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, AustraliaGriffith Institute for Health and Medical Research andrincess Alexandra Hospital, Griffith University, Universityrive, Meadowbrook, QLD 4131, AustraliaSchool of Nursing and Midwifery, Flinders University, Sturtoad, Bedford Park, Adelaide, South Australia 5042, Aus-raliaEmergency Department, The Townsville Hospital, 100 Sirngus Smith Drive, Douglas, QLD 4814, AustraliaDeakin University - Northern Health Clinical Partnership,/ School of Nursing, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy,urwood, Victoria 3125, AustraliaFaculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology,ictoria Park Rd, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, AustraliaCollege of Emergency Nursing Australasia Ltd, PO Box00x, Leumeah, NSW 2560, AustraliaAustralasian College for Emergency Medicine, 34 Jeffcotttreet, West Melbourne, Victoria 3003, AustraliaAustralian College of Emergency Nursing, PO Box 598,oongabbie, NSW 2146, AustraliaPrincess Alexandra Hospital, 199 Ipswich Rd, Buranda,ueensland 4102, AustraliaQueensland University of Technology, Victoria Park Road,elvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia

-mail addresses: gj.fitzgerald@qut.edu.auG.J. FitzGerald),.Shaban@griffith.edu.au (R. Shaban),aul.arbon@flinders.edu.au (P. Arbon),eter aitken@health.qld.gov.au (P. Aitken),ulie.Considine@deakin.edu.au (J. Considine),j.clark@qut.edu.au (M. Clark), juliefinooks@bigpond.com

J. Finucane), sallymcc@gmail.com (S. McCarthy),dmin@acen.com.au (L. Cloughessy),erri Holzhauser@health.qld.gov.au (K. Holzhauser),en.patrick@griffith.edu.au (J. Patrick),laine.fielding@qut.edu.au (F. Elaine).

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify thempact of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Influenza on Australianmergency Departments (EDs) and their staff.

Methods: Health department data was analysed. Twouestionnaires were email to members of the professionalssociations. Topics covered included ED conditions, infor-ation received, pandemic plans, the impact on staff with

espect to stress, illness prevention and treatment, supporteceived, attitudes to vaccination, and staff absenteeism.

Results: Public data reported a surge in ED presentationsuring the pandemic confirmed by survey results. Most casesere low on the triage scale. Core business was disrupted,

nd staff stressed from lack of space, increased demand,nd staffing deficits. Nurses reported more stress than doc-ors, particularly from skill-mix problems, lack of suppliesnd equipment, and patient and family aggression. Worry

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Keywords: Emergency; Emergency nursing; Preparedness;Saudi Arabia

Conference Abstracts

about personal illness was low, although over one-thirdreported contracting an Influenza-like Illness. Low sick leaverates were reported by respondents, however replacingstaff was cited as problematic. Colleagues and local net-works were considered very helpful. Information was mainlyhelpful, though sometimes inconsistent and of excessivevolume. Media were criticised as sensationalist, caus-ing unnecessary presentations. General Practitioners werecriticised for unnecessary patient referrals. 43% of respon-dents did not know whether their department/hospitalhad a pandemic plan. At the time of survey 26% ofrespondents reported being vaccinated against Pandemic(H1N1) 2009, with half the rest saying they would refusevaccination.

Conclusion: Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 had a significantimpact on Australian EDs. The ability to create surge capac-ity by considering staffing, equipment, physical space andstores is of primary importance. Flaws in existing plansincluded a lack of guidelines, information overload andconfusion between information sources. Communicationstrategies need detailed review, with media engagementto encourage responsible reporting. Low immunisation lev-els are of concern. ED designs must facilitate managementof infectious patients. Local support strategies help cre-ate a stable workforce. More education is required aboutpandemic plans.

Keywords: Pandemic; H1N1; Emergency Department;Communication; Surge capacity; Immunisation; Stress;Absenteeism

doi:10.1016/j.aenj.2010.08.268

Emergency nurses and disaster response: An explorationof South Australian emergency nurses’ knowledge andperceptions of their role in disaster response

Karen Hammad

Flinders University School of Nursing and Midwifery, Bed-ford Park, SA 5042, Australia

E-mail address: karenhammad@hotmail.com.

Australia has been lucky enough to avoid a catastrophicdisaster event that has overwhelmed the health care sys-tem. Such an event would have a considerable impact onthe emergency department (ED). It is expected that nursesworking in the ED have the necessary skills and experienceto effectively manage everyday emergencies and chaoticsituations. However, little is understood about what skillsor experience emergency nurses need in order to respondeffectively when the everyday work of the ED is amplifiedby a disaster event. Such an event could significantly impacta system that is already struggling with the daily effects ofstaff shortages and overcrowding.

This study was conducted amongst South Australianemergency nurses. Three key themes emerged from thedata. Firstly, South Australian emergency nurses have had

minimal previous disaster experience (either through realevents or simulated exercises). Second, although a largenumber of participants have completed disaster educationand training, questions were raised regarding the appropri-ateness, relevance and availability of such education. Third,

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outh Australian emergency nurses have a low level of dis-ster knowledge.

The findings from this study are not only relevant formergency nurses, but for all health professionals involvedn disaster response. More specifically for those who haveinimal disaster response experience and limited exposure

o disaster education and training opportunities. The find-ngs not only highlight the need for future research, but alsohe immediate need for individual hospitals, governmentrganizations and peak health bodies to address disaster andmergency preparedness for frontline health professionals.

eywords: Emergency nurse; Disaster; Disaster response;isaster training; Disaster education

oi:10.1016/j.aenj.2010.08.269

ducation 2B

urses’ preparedness to practice in Emergency Depart-ents in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

ousef A. Al-Both’hi, Karen Francis, Simon Cooper

Monash University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, North-ays Road, Churchill, Victoria 3842, Australia

In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) 73% of the nursingorkforce are expatriates. In an era when the Saudi govern-ent has adopted a policy of recruiting Saudi nationals to

ll workplaces, hospitals are challenged to ensure that staffSaudi and non-Saudi) are prepared for practice. The studyeeks to understand the preparedness and support providedor nurses in EDs in three KSA hospitals.

The research question ‘How are nurses prepared and sup-orted for practice in the ED in KSA?’ has been addressedsing a focused critical ethnographic approach to enablen depth description and exploration. The study was con-ucted in three EDs. Data collection included observation,nterviews, field notation and review of relevant documents.ll interviews were transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis

nvolving data reduction, coding and recoding was con-ucted.

Results suggest that the preparation of nurses prior toppointment to EDs is variable with some nurses having EDualifications and past work experience, and others with noelevant qualifications and/or experience. Availability andccess to professional development training is limited and adoc. Many nurses garner localised assistance from peers andther professionals (accidental mentors) such as medicaloctors in the absence of structured programs. How usefulhis process is in ensuring nurses preparedness for practice isependent on the knowledge and skills of the identified men-or. It is recommended that improved regulation of nursing,he introduction of structured recruitment processes andhe appointment of appropriately qualified nurse educatorsocally and/or on a regional basis be adopted.

oi:10.1016/j.aenj.2010.08.270