6.6.1 Witnessed resuscitation: The lived experience of qualified nurses (216)

Wendy Walker, Lecturer in Nursing, School of Health Sciences, The University of Birmingham, United Kingdom w.m.walker@bham.ac.uk

Abstract:

Background:

Witnessed resuscitation is a controversial topic that has stimulated discussion and debate over the past two decades. It has attracted the attention of clinicians and researchers worldwide, giving rise to a growing body of literature regarding the pros and cons of this practice.

Aim:

This paper presents the findings of a qualitative study designed to explore qualified nurses’ experience of lay presence during adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation; a practice commonly referred to in the literature as ‘witnessed resuscitation’. This is the second stage of my doctoral programme of research which is designed to gain insight into this phenomenon from the perspective of nurses and ambulance staff who have encountered this situation.

Methodology:

The philosophical and methodological basis of this enquiry is the application of phenomenological research techniques based on the Heideggarian tradition and in particular, the use of van Manen's methodological structure for 'doing' phenomenological research and writing. Method: In-depth interviews are currently being held with first-level registered nurses who are employed in secondary care and have experience in the specialty of accident and emergency care. The aim is to interview ten participants. Selection is based on the informants’ experience of the research topic.

Results:

Thematic analysis and interpretation of the study findings will be complete for the conference in accordance with the timescales of this funded project.

Discussion:

The findings will be presented and discussed in the context of previous studies that have investigated lay presence during an adult resuscitation attempt from the perspective of accident and emergency healthcare staff.

Conclusions:

The insights gained will deepen our knowledge and understanding of this phenomenon by providing information-rich cases of qualified nurses’ experience, as lived. The implications for policy and practice in relation to the delivery of holistic emergency resuscitative care will be considered in the context of the study findings.

Biography:

I am currently employed as a Lecturer in Nursing at the School of Health Sciences, University of Birmingham. I have a range of clinical experience in acute and critical care and my training at a specialist level was in intensive care. I was appointed to the post of Nurse Consultant in Critical Care and led the development and implementation of a critical care outreach service within a District General Hospital before returning to a full-time post in higher education in October 2003. My current academic responsibilities include the preparation of nurses for the role of Advanced Practitioner and I am actively engaged in curriculum development regarding role expansion and the delivery of competency-based education to support the Government’s NHS modernisation agenda. I am an active member of an end-of-life research collaborative in the School of Health Sciences and have a particular research interest in the phenomenon of sudden cardiac death. I am presently studying for the award of PhD in Health Sciences. My doctoral programme of research is designed to gain insight into the lived experience of bystander presence during adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation in primary (out-of-hospital) and secondary (in-hospital) environments of care.