Mrs Whitney Lester¹, Mrs Rachel Davis¹

¹Critical Care Complex, Middlemore Hospital, Counties Manukau Health,, New Zealand

Abstract:

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated staffing challenges in the critical care unit. Increased staff turnover, reduced numbers of qualified critical care nurses and cancellation of planned study days, has resulted in a large number of nurses with inadequate burn care knowledge and experience. The clinical coach role was introduced in February 2022 to provide educational, clinical and professional support to critical care nurses at the bedside on a daily basis.

Aim: To identify nursing staff education and clinical needs related to burn care.

Setting: A tertiary ICU supporting the national burns unit.

Method: An exploratory qualitative research design using: 1) a nursing staff questionnaire, 2) meetings with senior nursing staff and burns focus group members, and 3) exploration of clinical coaches experiences in their role, identified key focus areas for clinical coaches. As the study was a quality initiative, formal ethical approval was not obtained. Senior medical and nursing team supported the study.

Findings: Five themes were identified: 1) Being there for emotional and clinical support; 2) Embarrassment around lack of knowledge 3) The need for burn care education; 4) Lack of awareness of available burn care resources; 5) Stress and exhaustion associated with protective precautions, room temperature, and burn dressings.

Conclusion: COVID-19 has challenged burns care in our critical care unit and continues to impact patients and nurses. Clinical coach roles have a significant role in improving burns care by providing specialised support and education that the nurses at the bedside want and need.

Biography:

Whitney and Rachel both have extensive nursing experience caring for critically unwell patients with severe burns.