This study aims to address the crucial domain of paediatric emergency nursing education and training. The paediatric emergency health services in Ireland have seen an increasing trend in presentations nationwide. This increase can be attributed to the population growth both within Ireland and worldwide. There is a recognised need to ensure that quality paediatric nursing care is provided for their specific and unique needs through the implementation of standardised practice in all emergency departments receiving paediatric patients. At present there is an identified gap in the literature in the context of mixed emergency settings in Ireland. The identified gap raises concerns about potential misalignments between educational curricula and real-world challenges encountered in emergency scenarios.
The objectives of this study aim to assess and evaluate the perceived theory-practice gap among registered nursing staff specialising in paediatric emergency care and to identify and explore the factors contributing to the observed theory-practice gap in paediatric emergency nursing education.
The study design will utilise a mixed-methods approach. Stage one of data collection will utilise surveys to quantify perceptions. Analysis of data from stage one will facilitate the development of semi-structured focus-group interviews allowing for further in-depth qualitative insights. The data analysis will include collected thematic analysis for qualitative data and statistical analysis utilising SPSS for quantitative data.
The expected outcomes of the study intend to:
identify specific areas and factors contributing to the theory-practice gap in paediatric emergency nursing education.
provide recommendations for curriculum enhancements and targeted training programs.
support evidence-based improvements that can be implemented as standardised practice.
The outcomes are expected to inform enhancements in education and facilitate the development of targeted interventions. The study aims to advance paediatric emergency nursing care by bridging the theory-practice gap, ultimately elevating the quality of care provided by registered nursing staff in Irish emergency settings.