The mobile stroke unit nurse : An international exploration of their scope of practice, education, and training
Journal article
Coote, Skye, Mackey, Elizabeth, Alexandrov, Anne W., Cadilhac, Dominique A., Alexandrov, Andrei V., Easton, Damien, Zhao, Henry, Langenberg, Francesca, Bivard, Andrew, Stephenson, Michael, Parsons, Mark W., Campbell, Bruce C. V., Donnan, Geoffrey A., Davis, Stephen M. and Middleton, Sandy. (2022). The mobile stroke unit nurse : An international exploration of their scope of practice, education, and training. Journal of Neuroscience Nursing. 54(2), pp. 61-67. https://doi.org/10.1097/JNN.0000000000000632
Authors | Coote, Skye, Mackey, Elizabeth, Alexandrov, Anne W., Cadilhac, Dominique A., Alexandrov, Andrei V., Easton, Damien, Zhao, Henry, Langenberg, Francesca, Bivard, Andrew, Stephenson, Michael, Parsons, Mark W., Campbell, Bruce C. V., Donnan, Geoffrey A., Davis, Stephen M. and Middleton, Sandy |
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Abstract | BACKGROUND: Mobile stroke units (MSUs) are ambulance-based prehospital stroke care services. Through immediate roadside assessment and onboard brain imaging, MSUs provide faster stroke management with improved patient outcomes. Mobile stroke units have enabled the development of expanded scope of practice for stroke nurses; however, there is limited published evidence about these evolving prehospital acute nursing roles. AIMS: The aim of this study was to explore the expanded scope of practice of nurses working on MSUs by identifying MSUs with onboard nurses; describing the roles and responsibilities, training, and experience of MSU nurses, through a search of the literature; and describing 2 international MSU services incorporating nurses from Memphis, Tennessee, and Melbourne, Australia. METHODS: We searched PubMed, CINAHL, and the Joanna Briggs Institute Evidence-Based Practice database using the terms “mobile stroke unit” and “nurse.” Existing MSUs were identified through the PRE-hospital Stroke Treatment Organization to determine models that involved nurses. We describe 2 MSUs involving nurses: one in Memphis and one in Melbourne, led by 2 of our authors. RESULTS: Ninety articles were found describing 15 MSUs; however, staffing details were lacking, and it is unknown how many employ nurses. Nine articles described the role of the nurse, but role specifics, training, and expertise were largely undocumented. The MSU in Memphis, the only unit to be staffed exclusively by onboard nurse practitioners, is supported by a neurologist who consults via telephone. The Melbourne MSU plans to trial a nurse-led telemedicine model in the near future. CONCLUSION: We lack information on how many MSUs employ nurses, and the nurses' scope of practice, training, and expertise. Expert stroke nurse practitioners can safely perform many of the tasks undertaken by the onboard neurologist, making a nurse-led telemedicine model an effective and potentially cost-effective model that should be considered for all MSUs. |
Keywords | ambulance; mobile stroke unit; nurse practitioners; nurse-led; nursing; prehospital; stroke |
Year | 2022 |
Journal | Journal of Neuroscience Nursing |
Journal citation | 54 (2), pp. 61-67 |
Publisher | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins |
ISSN | 0888-0395 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1097/JNN.0000000000000632 |
PubMed ID | 35245919 |
Scopus EID | 2-s2.0-85125859610 |
Page range | 61-67 |
Funder | Department of Health and Human Services, Victoria |
Publisher's version | License All rights reserved File Access Level Controlled |
Output status | Published |
Publication dates | |
Online | 2022 |
Publication process dates | |
Deposited | 31 Oct 2023 |
https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8zxyq/the-mobile-stroke-unit-nurse-an-international-exploration-of-their-scope-of-practice-education-and-training
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