Abstract

LOPEZ ALONSO, Sergio R. et al. Activity and safety of the emergency nurse attending minor pathologies at home. Index Enferm [online]. 2014, vol.23, n.3, pp.134-138. ISSN 1699-5988.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S1132-12962014000200004.

Objetives: To explore the emergency nursing practice at home with a physician on the phone and to compare it with emergency medical teams' activity. Methods: Cross-sectional study, including patients from Málaga District attended by a nurse from January 2012 to March 2013, and by medical teams in 2012. Statistical analysis included descriptive data analysis, Chi-squared test and multivariate logistic regression. Results: 641 patients were attended by the nurse. The causes were: Cervical-Back-sciatica pain (13.9%), dizziness/vertigo (9.5%), No pathology (8.4%), High/Low blood pressure (7.8%), etc. Three patients, with high blood pressure or restlessness, required attention by the medical team 24 hours later. The medical team attended 7,430 similar causes from a 21,226 in total. Noncompliance or ineffective treatment management were associated to non-oncologic pain, high/low blood pressure and hypo/hyperglycaemia. Ineffective management of medical devices and inadequate coping responses were associated to demands without pathology. Conclusion: Emergency nursing practice at home, with a physician on the phone, is safe and efficient, preface of the advanced practice.

Keywords : Prehospital Care; Prehospital Services; Emergencies; Emergency nursing; Advanced nursing practice.