Making the switch: PSO to AIN

Miss Laura Pyszkowski1, Mrs Ann  Allanby1, Ms Annette Moore1, Ms Roseanne O’Keeffe1, Ms Samantha Sargison1, Ms Emma  Bond1

1Ths-south

Background: Patient Safety Observers (PSOs) are routinely used for patients that have been assessed as requiring increased care needs for the purpose of providing a safe environment and maintaining patient safety and comfort, and for the safety of others.

PSOs are utilised within the RHH and in particular on the Acute Older Person Unit (6A) and the Oncology Haematology Unit (9A) to provide one on one nursing observation and increased care assistance for patients with needs exceeding current staffing levels.

Objective: The use of PSOs has increased steadily over the last few years, despite continuous review of the assessment criteria, approval processes and PSO utilisation trends on each unit.

This increasing use of PSO’s has led to increased budget expenditure over the last two years, requiring the Cancer, Chronic Disease & Sub Acute Care (CCD & SAC) Nursing Leadership to critically review and creatively propose the trial of a new nursing model to support more efficient and effective ways to deliver safe patient care within the service.

Description: The proposed change for the units is to incorporate Assistance in Nursing (AINs) into the establishment of both 6A and 9A as a pilot project for a period of 3 months.

AIN’s will be rostered within existing staffing models to enable more frequent patient observation  with the utilisation of comfort and lightening rounds in an attempt to reduce risk of harm for patients, the need for 1:1 patient observation and subsequently reduce PSO utilisation and cost.

Evaluation: Key performance indicators will be developed and monitored throughout the trial period. The project  team will meet fortnightly to discuss progress and outcomes from the trial and will include staff from across the two areas to optimise shared learnings and support.

Conclusion: The addition of AINs to the nursing models on 6a and 9a will bring a number of benefits for patients, staff and the organisation and the trial will provide key information to inform future practice changes.


Biography:

Laura Pyszkowski: Laura is the Nurse Unit Manager of the Oncology Haematology Inpatient unit at the Royal Hobart Hospital. Laura completed her Master in Cancer Nursing in 2014. Laura is an active member of both the Cancer Nurses Society of Australia (CNSA) and Australian College of Nursing (ACN) Laura is committed and passionate about the role nurses play in improving outcomes for individuals affected by cancer.