Reforming emergency care — Realising the potential of emergency nurses

Abstract

Trauma is one of modern society's major causes of death but trauma-related mortality and morbidity have been reduced by the introduction of organised trauma systems (Davis & Parr 2001; Eastman 1992). The aim of a trauma system is to ensure optimal care for trauma victims by coordinating the provision of that care. The ideal system encompasses all aspects of injury management from prevention strategies, prehospital care, definitive treatment in a hospital, through to rehabilitation. Australia's trauma system development began in 1986 and resulted in New South Wales (NSW) developing Australia's first state trauma plan, which was implemented in 1992 (National Road Trauma Advisory Council 1993; NSW Department of Health 1988).A vital link in the development and operation of a trauma care system is the trauma nurse coordinator (TNC). Most major trauma services (MTS) in metropolitan Sydney have an appointed TNC. South Western Sydney Area Health Service (SWSAHS) has expanded the TNC role to create a regional trauma nurse coordinator. This is the first position of its kind in Australia. The aim of the role is to extend the vital TNC link beyond the MTS by providing an expanded regional service to all trauma patients and trauma care providers throughout the entire area health service.This paper is the first of a two-part series. It outlines the development of trauma systems in NSW and describes the evolution of trauma nursing in that state.