title: Admission and discharge practices: High Dependency Unit audit outcome.
abstract: This paper presents the findings of a retrospective audit of admission and discharge practices of a nurse led High Dependency Unit (Nurse Specials Unit) in Perth, Western Australia. The aim of the study was: to review the effectiveness of the inclusion and exclusion guidelines for patients admitted to the Nurse Special Unit (NSU); to identify characteristics of admitted patients; and to determine the level of adherence to admission protocols for documentation of patient condition, plan of care, medical and Clinical Nurse Consultant review. The sample comprised all patients admitted to the NSU from September 2004 - March 2005, excluding those (50) in the pilot study (n = 154). This audit revealed patients were primarily elderly and admitted for close nursing supervision. Inclusion and exclusion criterion were adhered to, however documentation of patient data, in relation to current status and plan of care, was poorly completed and frequently absent during intra hospital transfer. This lack of clear documentation poses a significant risk to the patient. Further research is required to determine strategies that result in appropriate and useful transfer documentation. In addition, the content of transfer data that permits continuity of care needs to be determined.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Curtin University of Technology, and Curtin University - Joondalup Health Campus.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tulloch
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: How
authors.forename: Marjorie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brent
authors.forename: Rose
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: Brendon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: Su-Mei
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Pomery
mesh_terms: D003133:Commission on Professional and Hospital Activities; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D004282:Documentation; D005260:Female; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014904:Western Australia