Nurse led discharge: improving efficiency, safely

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that nurse led discharge (NLD) could improve the efficiency of simple discharges from a short stay surgical ward without compromising patient safety.

Design/methodology/approach

A protocol for NLD was designed and implemented. Introduction of the protocol was audited and re-audited prospectively.

Findings

Introduction of the nurse led discharge protocol significantly reduced the rate of delayed discharge (p>0.001). The protocol successfully identified all patients for whom a NLD would be inappropriate and no patients discharged by the nursing team were re-admitted.

Research limitations/implications

No formal measure of staff and patient satisfaction with the new protocol was performed.

Practical implications

The nursing team are now able to more effectively manage patient flow through the short stay surgical ward. Mismatch between demand for beds and capacity has reduced.

Social implications

Patient experience has been improved by the release of time to care for our nurses and the elimination of unnecessary delay in discharge.

Originality/value

Formal protocol driven NLD can be a safe way of improving efficiency in patient flow. This pattern of discharge could be applied in many hospital systems.

Citation

Bowen, A., Kumar, R., Howard, J. and E. Camilleri, A. (2014), "Nurse led discharge: improving efficiency, safely", Clinical Governance: An International Journal, Vol. 19 No. 2, pp. 110-116. https://doi.org/10.1108/CGIJ-03-2013-0007