Survey of attitudes of nurses and junior doctors to co-management of high risk surgical patients.

Abstract

Managing post-operative surgical patients can be complex, with many patients at risk of complications and mortality. We piloted a model for co-management of high risk surgical patients: the post-operative surveillance team (POST). We conducted a survey to test the proposition that POST would be popular with nurses and junior doctors. We conducted a questionnaire survey of nurses and doctors involved with the POST programme. Fifty-three nurses and 10 doctors responded to the survey: 60% response rate. Of 63 respondents: 62 (98%; 95% CI: 92-100%) agreed that POST was valuable, 61 (97%; 95% CI: 89-99%) agreed that POST should continue, and 61 (97%; 95% CI: 89-99%) agreed that they enjoyed working with POST. In open ended responses 39% commented that POST provided supervision, mentoring, education, or collaboration. We conclude that POST was popular with surgical ward nurses and doctors. This popularity is one factor supporting a permanent service.