The study suggests that a care bundle approach can be used as a strategy to improve emergency nursing care of patients with severe traumatic brain injury.
Aims
This paper aims to identify the frequency and nature of evidence–practice gaps in the initial neuro‐protective nursing care of patients with moderate or severe traumatic brain injury provided by Thai trauma nurses.
Background
Little is known about how Thai trauma nurses use evidence‐based practice when providing initial neuro‐protective nursing care to patients with moderate or severe traumatic brain injury.
Design
A mixed methods design was used to conduct this study.
Methods
Data were collected from January to March 2017 using observations and audits of the clinical care of 22 patients by 35 nurses during the first 4 h of admission to trauma ward. The study site was a regional hospital in Southern Thailand.
Results
The major evidence–practice gaps identified were related to oxygen and carbon dioxide monitoring and targets, mean arterial pressure and systolic blood pressure targets and management of increased intracranial pressure through patient positioning and pain and agitation management.
Conclusion
There were evidence–practice gaps in initial neuro‐protective nursing care provided by Thai trauma nurses that need to be addressed to improve the safety and quality of care for Thai patients with moderate or severe traumatic brain injury.
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