Teaching pre-registration student nurses to assess acutely ill patients: An evaluation of an acute illness management programme

Abstract

Mortality and physical crisis in hospital can be prevented by accurate assessment and early intervention. Evidence suggests that patients experiencing acute illness outside critical care areas who receive enhanced levels of intervention from appropriately trained nurses prevent the need for admission to high dependency and intensive care beds. Such interventions can lead to reduced mortality and morbidity. This qualitative study, supported by quantitative assessment, evaluated training for student nurses designed to assess patients using a structured programme in the management of acute illness. Questionnaires were used to collect data from 184 third year nursing students eliciting their experiences of the training programme. The responses demonstrated a positive evaluation of the programme. The study has implications for incorporating acute illness assessment into a theoretically oriented curriculum. Exposing student nurses to the programme enhances teaching and learning, as well as having potential for more effective interventions to take place in practice.