title: Activities undertaken by Intensive Care Unit Liaison Nurses in Argentina.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Intensive Care Unit Liaison Nurse (ICULN), also known as an outreach nurse, is an advanced practice nursing role that emerged in the late 1990s in Australia and the United Kingdom (UK). Little is known about this role in less developed economies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the activities undertaken by ICULNs in Argentina.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, descriptive, observational, single site study in an Argentinean metropolitan tertiary referral hospital. Adult patients under ICULN follow up were included in the sample. Data on ICULN activities and patients were collected using an established tool developed by The Australian Intensive Care Unit Liaison Nurse Forum. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred patients were visited by the ICULNs during the study period. The mean age of patients was 52.5 years (SD 17.7). Cardiovascular disease (n=104, 52%), respiratory disease (n=90, 45%) and diabetes (n=40, 20%) were the most common comorbidities. 110 (55%) patients had surgical procedures. The primary reasons for ICULN visit were follow up post ICU discharge (n=138, 69%) and ward referral (n=46, 23%). 136 (68%) patients received up to 3 visits; the remaining 64 (32%) patients received ≥4 visits. In those patients in need of ≥4 visits ICULNs initiated more non-medical treatments (100%), referred to escalate treatment (35%) and to a higher level of care (13.8%) than in those who were visited up to 3 times.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is the first to document ICULN activity in Argentina using an international framework and data set. These findings can assist with understanding an advanced practice nursing role in Argentina. It may facilitate future comparisons with other contexts and could help managers implementing the role in similar settings. Further investigation will help develop this practice and document its influence on patient outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Sanatorio de Alta Complejidad Sagrado Corazón, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Menzies Health Institute Qld (MHIQ), Griffith University, Queensland, Australia; School of Nursing & Midwifery, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: laura.alberto@griffithuni.edu.au.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alberto
authors.affiliation: Menzies Health Institute Qld (MHIQ), Griffith University, Queensland, Australia; NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Nursing, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Brigid M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Gillespie
authors.affiliation: ICU Liaison Nurse Service, Western Health (1998 - 2015), Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Sanatorio de Alta Complejidad Sagrado Corazón, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; School of Nursing, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Maria Del Carmen
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.affiliation: Sanatorio de Alta Complejidad Sagrado Corazón, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cañete
authors.affiliation: Sanatorio de Alta Complejidad Sagrado Corazón, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Haydee
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zotarez
authors.affiliation: Sanatorio de Alta Complejidad Sagrado Corazón, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Economy and Health Management Specialization Program, Universidad ISALUD, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Carlos Alberto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.affiliation: Sanatorio de Alta Complejidad Sagrado Corazón, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Marcelino
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Enriquez
authors.affiliation: Sanatorio de Alta Complejidad Sagrado Corazón, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gerónimo
authors.affiliation: Menzies Health Institute Qld (MHIQ), Griffith University, Queensland, Australia; NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Nursing, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chaboyer
mesh_terms: D001118:Argentina; D064648:Critical Care Nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: Intensive care unit; Liaison nurse activities; Ward patients