SEISMIC: An evaluation of nurse staffing models in intensive care
Research type
Research Study
Full title
SEISMIC – Study to Evaluate the Introduction of nurse Staffing Models in Intensive Care
IRAS ID
259475
Contact name
Ruth Endacott
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The number of nurses providing care to critically ill patients can result in better or worse outcomes for patients and staff. Over 170,000 people spend time in intensive care units in England and Wales each year, the majority surviving to be discharged home. The method used to decide how many nurses are needed is based on ratios of nurse to patients This calculation is based on the assumption that sicker intensive care patients require more nursing resource than those recovering from critical illness. This has not been based on scientific research.
This study is a first part of a programme of research. In the next, larger, study we plan to observe what happens in intensive care units, then develop and test a new model of nurse staffing across intensive care units in England. The aim of this will be to provide the staffing levels to deliver the best outcomes for patients, family and staff.
Before we can do this larger study, we have funding from the National Institute for Health Research to do some exploratory work to find out what will work and what will not work. This first study includes focus groups with patients, families and professionals on their experiences of care in the Intensive Care Unit, particularly around their experiences of nurse staffing. We are also undertaking a literature review, testing out the ease of collecting data from hospital systems and a stakeholder event to plan for the large study.
For the purposes of this study, 'family member' is defined as “a person with a close familial, social or emotional relationship with the patient and is not restricted solely by next of kin” (Rowan et al 2014).REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
19/WS/0166
Date of REC Opinion
30 Oct 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion