Hyperbaric nursing

Abstract: Hyperbaric nursing has become a specialty requiring high skill and knowledge. Nitrogen narcosis is a perceived risk for all inside hyperbaric chamber nurses. The actual degree of impairment at pressure has not been quantified. Twenty eight subjects participated in the study. Sixteen hyperbaric nurse candidates and five experienced hyperbaric nurses completed Trail Making Test A (TMTA) pre and post compression and at 180 kPa and 300 kPa. Seven experienced hyperbaric staff acted as an unpressurized reference. Time to completion of the test was recorded in seconds; pre-test anxiety and perceived symptoms of narcosis at 300 kPa were also recorded. There were no statistically significant differences in the corrected TMT A times at the four different time periods. There was a trend to poorer performance by the nurse candidates at 180 kPa however this was not statistically significant. Most subjects felt some degree of narcosis at 300 kPa. Most hyperbaric chamber nurses can overcome the effects of nitrogen narcosis at 180 and 300 kPa to maintain or improve performance in the TMT A. Poor performance by hyperbaric nurse candidates maybe due to individual susceptibility or lack of ability to compensate. Due to the risk of nitrogen narcosis outside chamber staff should continue to make clinical decisions about patient care.

Abstract: Objective: To document and describe a contemporary profile of the Australian hyperbaric nursing workforce. Design: A mixed methods research methodology using a web-based survey questionnaire. Setting: Members of the Australian Hyperbaric Technicians and Nurses Association. Main outcome measures: Overview of the current Australian hyperbaric nursing workforce including demographics, education, clinical experience, employment status and workplace health and safety requirements. Results: A majority of the 49 respondents working in the specialty of hyperbaric medicine were female (87.7%) and aged between 45-54 years (42.9%). All have qualifications relevant to hyperbaric, wound management and/or critical care nursing. A mostly part-time and casual workforce (75.5%) participates in an on call roster between one and five times per fortnight (81.6%). Hyperbaric nurses (95.4%) have been recruited from critical and emergency care departments with many continuing to work shifts in these areas. A high level of workplace health and safety compliance includes an annual medical examination (91.8%) and associated hearing test (77.6%). Personal injuries associated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy are low. Conclusion: Limited data are available on the characteristics of the hyperbaric nursing workforce in Australia. Results of this survey show the recruitment and retention of female nurses' in the middle of their career ensures a high level of job suitability. Advanced clinical skills coupled with relevant post graduate tertiary qualifications are necessary. A high level of casual workforce employees ensures the mandatory 18 hour break between compression treatments is achievable. The emphasis on workplace health and safety compliance is paramount with few injuries being reported.

Abstract: The speciality of hyperbaric nursing has evolved si nce the 1950s along with the practice of hyperbaric medicine. Nurses, qualified by education, experience, and pro fessional licensure, provide care for patients in t he altered environment of the hyperbaric chamber. The art and science of nursing are uniquely combined in this se tting as nurses not only deal with the technology of the hyp erbaric chamber, the physiological monitoring and l ife support equipment, but also with the art of psychologically adapting the patient, and providing emotional supp ort and patient and family education. The role of the nurse in oxygen treatment: working at a hyperbaric oxyge n clinic offers the nurse a variety of satisfaction and chal lenges.

Abstract: The movement of nursing into the specialty of hyperbaric medicine is relatively new and has occurred within the last 47 years. During this time, a professional organization was formed, a certification examination created, and two textbooks dedicated to hyperbaric nursing were published. Nursing has defined its unique role in this specialty, impacted the education of the patient, developed nursing interventions specific for the patient undergoing treatment under hyperbaric conditions, and performed research to answer questions relevant to advancing the field. This chapter is the journey of hyperbaric nursing, an overview of the specialty with a focus on nursing interventions and patient education.