Another compulsory clinical competence for emergency nurses—Implementing effective discharge planning

Abstract

Discharge planning has become a major issue in health care systems because of shorter hospital stays, increased health care costs and greater emphasis on community care resulting from recent health care reforms in many countries. Effective discharge planning is critical in emergency department because emergency patients need to have integrated discharge planning in order to deal with any post-discharge issues. Nurses are the key healthcare provider involved in implementing discharge planning and such planning is an important professional nursing function. Implementing discharge planning is also a compulsory clinical skill and a legal obligation for nurses. Nurses who do not adequately prepare patients for follow up care after discharge risk being sued for negligence. The aim of this paper is firstly to review the current literature related to the nurse's role in discharge planning, and to identify its significance. If nurses can clearly understand their key role in the discharge planning process, more effective discharge planning will result. This may help to address readmission rates to hospitals, reduce service costs, decrease stress on patients and ensure continuity of care.