Prospective, blinded study of nasal injuries: comparison of doctor and nurse assessment.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to compare an experienced ENT treatment room nurse's ability to assess nasal injuries with that of junior doctors.


METHODS
One hundred consecutive patients with nasal injuries were assessed prospectively in two phases, followed by a telephone survey.


METHODS
Comparison of nasal injury assessment, advice, and outcomes regarding cosmesis, airway obstruction and patient satisfaction.


RESULTS
In the first phase, there was almost perfect agreement between doctor and nurse assessments regarding the management of nasal fractures (p < 0.0001). There was no deterioration in outcomes in the nurse assessment only patient group with regards to cosmesis and airway obstruction. Ninety-four per cent of patients were satisfied with nurse-only assessment.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study showed that an experienced treatment room nurse was as effective as experienced junior doctors in assessing and advising patients with nasal injuries. Following this study, the nurse involved began to independently assess patients with nasal injuries attending the unit.
Baring
D
D
Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Trust, Scotland, UK.
Murray
C
C
Singh
J
J
Davidson
A
A
Syed
M I
MI
D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D017102:Fracture Healing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D009295:Nasal Bone / Q000293:injuries; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000592:standards*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057184:Practice Patterns, Nurses' / Q000592:standards; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012606:Scotland; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome