343 Knowledge and Confidence of Nursing Staff in Burns Management

Abstract Background Nursing staff play a pivotal role in the management of burns patients. It is essential that nurses are confident in following the various protocols for these patients. Due to Covid-19, many nursing staff have been redeployed to other specialties, with reduced availability of Burns teaching days also impacting on Burns care. The aim of this audit was to determine the level of education and confidence of burns management amongst nursing staff. Method Data collection proformas were handed out to all nursing staff working on a ward that receives burns patients. The data was subsequently collated, analysed and presented at a local meeting. Results A total of 44 proformas were distributed. The average confidence ratings of nursing staff (on a scale of 1-10) when managing 5%, 10% and 15% burns patients were 6.4, 5.2 and 3.8 respectively. 89% had received no formal burns education within the past 2 years. Conclusions Optimal burns care is dependent on a multidisciplinary approach, with burns nurses playing a central role. The complex requirements of these patients require nursing staff to have a broad range of knowledge and skills so as to coordinate the patient’s management. This study shows that confidence increases with experience and decreases with an increasing severity of burn. Through this study we were able to identify the main areas of knowledge discrepancy amongst the nurses, as well as determine their preferred means of learning. We are currently organising a Burns education programme for the nursing staff tailored to the feedback received in this audit.