The impact of a liaison nurse on ICU nurses' perceptions of discharge planning

The objective of the study was to examine the impact of a discharge liaison nurse on intensive care unit (ICU) nurses' perceptions of discharge planning. The discharge liaison nurse coordinated the discharge of patients from ICU to the ward, assisted with hospital discharge, provided clinical teaching and support to both ICU and ward nurses and supported patients and families during hospitalisation. A block intervention design was used. All ICU nurses within one Australian teaching hospital were surveyed prior to and following the implementation of the discharge liaison nurse. Measures included the perceptions of discharge planning scale and the general perceived self-efficacy scale. Following implementation of the liaison nurse, less nurses perceived that discharge planning in the ICU was premature (chi2(2, n=117)=7.759, p=0.021) and that ICU nurses lack an understanding of the discharge planning process (chi2(2, n=118)=15.557, p<0.001). Discharge planning was more frequently seen as the responsibility of the bedside nurse (chi2(2, n=115) =15.270, p<0.005) but there was greater recognition of discharge planning as a time consuming process (chi2(2, n=117)=8.560, p=0.015). Self efficacy in relation to discharge planning did not change over time. Some support was found for the role of the discharge liaison nurse in promoting attitudinal change towards discharge planning in the ICU. Future research is needed to investigate the processes by which the liaison nurse fosters attitudinal change and to document the actual discharge planning practices undertaken in ICU.