Workforce research priorities for emergency nurses in Australia

Nicholas McIntyre; Julia Crilly; Grace Xu; Julia Morphet; Bronwyn Griffin; Jaimi Greenslade; Elizabeth Elder

doi:10.1016/j.ienj.2024.101539

Workforce research priorities for emergency nurses in Australia

Int Emerg Nurs. 2024 Dec 14:78:101539. doi: 10.1016/j.ienj.2024.101539. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Nicholas McIntyre¹, Julia Crilly², Grace Xu³, Julia Morphet⁴, Bronwyn Griffin⁵, Jaimi Greenslade⁶, Elizabeth Elder⁷

Affiliations

¹ School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia; Department of Emergency Medicine, Gold Coast Health, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: Nicholas.McIntyre@griffithuni.edu.au.
² School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia; Department of Emergency Medicine, Gold Coast Health, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia; Centre for Mental Health, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
³ School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Centre of Clinical Nursing, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Emergency and Trauma Centre, Royal Brisbane, and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
⁴ School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
⁵ School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
⁶ Emergency and Trauma Centre, Royal Brisbane, and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
⁷ School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia; Department of Emergency Medicine, Gold Coast Health, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia; Australian Centre for Health Service Innovation, Centre for Healthcare Transformation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Centre for Work, Organisation and Wellbeing, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

PMID: 39675111
DOI: 10.1016/j.ienj.2024.101539

Abstract

Background: The current nursing shortage is a critical issue facing healthcare systems. Workforce research priorities foremergency nurses are limited.This study aimed to identify, collate, and prioritise areas of workforce research for emergency nursing in Australia.

Methods: This priority-setting study was conducted with ED nurses from September 2022 to August 2023 and comprised: i) an initial survey, ii) face-to-face group discussions, and iii) a prioritisation survey.

Results: A total of 318 ED nurses responded to the initial survey. Staffing (n = 245), workload (n = 112), access block (n = 63) and burnout (n = 54) were nominated as workforce concerns. Responses were grouped into three overarching categories: person, department, and organisation. These categories informed the face-to-face group discussions. A total of 30 ED nurses participated in one of three face-to-face group discussions. Sub-themes, including resilience, workload, and well-being emerged. From the prioritisation survey completed by 163 ED nurses, the highest-ranked workforce research priorities pertained to turnover and retention.

Conclusions: The research priorities identified reflect important and contemporary workforce issues for emergency nurses. Efforts to progress research in these priority workforce areas should be encouraged and supported.

Keywords: Emergency services; Emergency ward; Hospital; Nurses; Personal retention; Personal turnover; Personnel management; Research prioritisation.