Bulletin

Issue: May/June 2007

Graduation

Study seeks to improve heart care

Research by critical care nurse and La Trobe lecturer Mark Nally, has analysed cardiac arrest statistics at Bendigo Health over the past seven years.

The data documented patients who suffered cardiac arrest whilst in hospital and their outcomes – whether the patient was successfully resuscitated and survived the attack.

Mr Nally, whose research was conducted with colleague, Leigh Kinsman, said while health care agencies across Australia collected cardiac resuscitation data, he was surprised to discover that very few were analysing their data and outcomes.

The study used a data collection format called the Utstein Criteria that is recognised internationally. He said the approach enabled organisations to benchmark data with institutions across the world.

The study may provide a model for healthcare agencies across Australia to examine their resuscitation outcomes to improve the quality of patient care. Mr Nally said he planned to publish the results of the study in national nursing journals.

‘A great outcome would be to see a national data base established in Australia where health care agencies can analyse and compare the quality of their work with the overall intention of improving patient care,’ Mr Nally said.

Mr Nally has been working in critical care for more than 20 years and is currently employed in a joint position at Bendigo Health and in La Trobe University’s Division of Nursing and Midwifery. The study earned him a Masters degree in Nursing Science at the Bendigo campus.

One of an increasing number of regional health professionals seeking to undertake postgraduate study, Mr Nally said his Masters degree was an opportunity to further his skills as a critical care educator and, through his research, contribute to the body of knowledge in this specialised field.