In Queensland Health, CNs have a responsibility for portfolio development. GEDI CNs, employed as part of the experienced nursing leadership group in the ED, share this responsibility. GEDI CNs may play a valuable role in the ED by having portfolio focused on specific areas that have high impact for the care of older patients. By engaging with ED primary nurses in the fulfilment of these portfolios, an opportunity for broader staff development may be enabled. The GEDI nurse role crosses most aspects of the National Safety and Quality Health Standards so potentially they may take responsibility for a wide range of portfolios in the ED. However, focus on geriatric specific areas may have a greater impact.
Work to do
CN portfolios with high level of impact on the care of older people in the ED relating to the National Standards for Safety and Quality include:
- Falls
- Patient safety/medication safety
- Delirium recognition
- Patient engagement
- Palliative care
- Handover
Portfolio topics are largely determined by mandatory training and expectations, incident reporting or rostering. As well as having portfolios relating to the national standards, EDs may focus CN portfolios on population groups e.g. geriatric, paediatric and mental health patients.
