title: Role of out-of-hours nurse co-ordinators in a children's hospital.
abstract: In a hospital, a high proportion of working time occurs outside the traditional working day, affecting patient safety as staffing levels are at their lowest out of hours. A service evaluation audit was used to evaluate the effectiveness of a clinical out-of-hours nurse co-ordinator (COHNC) pilot role in a tertiary children's hospital. The COHNC role was trialled over a six-month period. During the pilot, the COHNC carried the junior paediatrician's 'bleep' and prioritised all phone calls and tasks. Following a patient assessment, the COHNC either performed the investigations and treatments within their scope of practice or escalated these to the appropriate multidisciplinary team member. A description of how the COHNC role has developed and its implications to nursing practice are presented in this article, along with an overview of the quantitative and qualitative data obtained during the audit.
authors.affiliation: Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hensman
authors.affiliation: Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield.
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield.
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nathan
mesh_terms: D039602:After-Hours Care; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008330:Management Audit; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D010865:Pilot Projects; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: child health; emergency nursing; nurse co-ordinators; out-of-hours; paediatrics