Nurse recognised for contribution to trauma care

Trauma nurse recognised for her high impact research

An internationally respected trauma nurse and researcher has won the Frank McDermott award for her research into trauma nurse case management.

The prize, from the National Trauma Research Institute, is awarded to research published in the last 10 years and judged to have led to the greatest improvements in care for severely injured patients in Australia or New Zealand.

Clinical associate professor Kate Curtis from the University of Sydney’s nursing school led a study on the effect of trauma case management at St George Hospital in Sydney. Patient care at this hospital was and continues to be overseen by a trauma nurse specialist, from resuscitation to discharge.

The groundbreaking research has since been translated into health policy and stimulated the implementation of the Trauma Case Management model in trauma hospitals around Australia and New Zealand, dramatically improving patient care.

"Patient care by a trauma nurse specialist results in significant health benefits to the trauma patient and their families and financial savings to a hospital and the health system," said Curtis.

The true cost of treating a major trauma patient is not clearly understood, said Curtis who is now finalising a multi-centre study aimed at identifying the real cost associated with treatments.

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