Senior Clinical Nurses Effectively Contribute to the Pandemic Influenza Public Health Response

Abstract

Nurses are an essential component of the Australian health care system (ANF 2005). During public health emergencies, such as an influenza pandemic, traditionally the focus has been on the nurse's clinical role, however large-scale and sustained public health emergencies require surge public health surveillance staff to ensure an effective and efficient response. Public health surveillance during a pandemic involves: case ascertainment, case management (but not clinical management), infection control, contact tracing, monitoring cases and contacts in home quarantine, education of community and health staff and communication with a variety of people and organisations. Public health case management may involve liaising with clinicians concerning the case, clinical presentation and management, ensuring appropriate specimens have been collected, following up test results, provision of prophylaxis or treatment if not in hospital and monitoring of cases progress (Eastwood 2006). There are no clear guidelines on who should be utilised as public health surveillance surge capacity during a public health emergency and how they should be trained. In the United States of America, epidemiology and public health students have been identified as a potential surge workforce for public health emergencies (Gebbie 2007). However, in Australia senior registered nurses may be a more appropriate surge workforce. According to the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMC) a competent registered nurse works within four domains: professional practice, critical thinking and analysis, provision and coordination of care and collaborative and therapeutic practice (ANMC 2006). Therefore senior registered nurses use evidence for practice, take responsibility for complex situations, show leadership in clinical and professional settings, contribute to effective team work, and focus on improving the health of individuals and groups (ANF 2005). Thus, theoretically this group have many of the characteristics required for effective public health surveillance.