HIRAID: An evidence-informed emergency nursing assessment framework

Belinda Munroe; Kate Curtis; Margaret Murphy; Luke Strachan; Thomas Buckley

doi:10.1016/j.aenj.2015.02.001

HIRAID: An evidence-informed emergency nursing assessment framework

Australas Emerg Nurs J. 2015 May;18(2):83-97. doi: 10.1016/j.aenj.2015.02.001. Epub 2015 Apr 8.

Authors

Belinda Munroe¹, Kate Curtis², Margaret Murphy³, Luke Strachan⁴, Thomas Buckley⁵

Affiliations

¹ Sydney Nursing School, University of Sydney, Australia; Emergency Department, The Wollongong Hospital, Australia. Electronic address: belinda.munroe@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au.
² Sydney Nursing School, University of Sydney, Australia; Emergency Department, The Wollongong Hospital, Australia; St George Hospital Trauma Service, Australia.
³ Sydney Nursing School, University of Sydney, Australia; Emergency Department, Westmead Hospital, Australia.
⁴ Emergency Department, Blacktown Hospital, Australia.
⁵ Sydney Nursing School, University of Sydney, Australia.

PMID: 25863915
DOI: 10.1016/j.aenj.2015.02.001

Abstract

Introduction: Emergency nurses must be highly skilled at performing accurate and comprehensive patient assessments. In 2008, the inaugural emergency nursing assessment framework (ENAF) was devised at Sydney Nursing School, to provide emergency nurses with a systematic approach to initial patient assessment. In 2014 the assessment framework was re-developed to reflect the most recent evidence.

Aim: To describe the process and evidence used to re-develop ENAF, to provide ED nurses with an evidence-informed approach to the comprehensive assessment of patients presenting to ED after triage, so that it may be implemented and tested in the clinical (simulated) setting.

Methods: A thorough literature review was conducted to inform the re-development of ENAF. Literature review findings were reviewed and ENAF was re-developed by a panel of expert emergency nursing clinicians using the Delphi Technique.

Results: Modifications to ENAF were undertaken and a new, more comprehensive assessment framework was developed titled 'HIRAID'. HIRAID is informed by current evidence, comprising of seven assessment components: History; Identify Red flags; Assessment; Interventions; Diagnostics; reassessment and communication.

Conclusion: HIRAID provides an evidence-informed systematic approach to initial patient assessment performed by emergency nurses after triage. Evaluation is now needed to determine its impact on clinician performance and patient safety.

Keywords: Communication; Emergency nursing; Evidence-based practice; Framework; Nursing assessment; Nursing process.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Emergency Nursing / education*
Evidence-Based Practice*
Humans
Nurse's Role
Nursing Assessment / methods*
Practice Guidelines as Topic*