FOCUS – fundamentals of care under search in the emergency department – mapping and intervention

In emergency care, patients who need immediate care are treated for serious symptoms or illnesses. The most critically ill patients are treated at special emergency rooms located at emergency department. In recent years, problems such as long waiting times, lack of care and lack of assessment have been reported from Swedish emergency departments. These problems are often related to the fundamentals of care (FoC) and lack of person-centred care. FoC refers to needs that have to be met to maintain quality of care. The overall aim of the project is to explore and describe how FoC needs are being met for critically ill patients at emergency rooms and to develop and test the feasibility of an intervention for registered nurses aiming at ensuring that FoC needs are being met. Four studies will be conducted: 1) 120 observations of nursing care at the emergency room, using an FOC protocol, 2) an interview study with 15-20 RNs about their work approach and prerequisites to meet critically ill patients’ FOC needs, 3) an interview study with 20 patients about their experiences of being cared for at the emergency room, 4) development and test of an intervention. The project will contribute with knowledge about emergency nursing to enhance quality care and patient safety, and in education.