Improving student nurses' confidence in managing the acutely ill patient

Aim: The Acute Illness Management (AIM) course was introduced into NHS trusts across Greater Manchester in 2002/03 for registered nurses. In preparation for the transition from student to registered nurse, the AIM course was then included in the final year of the undergraduate nursing programme. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the AIM course on student nurses' confidence in managing the acutely ill patient. Method: A quantitative approach was adopted. Ethical approval was granted by the Research and Ethics committee at the University of Salford. Results: A total of 192 student nurses attended the AIM course; 94% of the students completed a pre-course questionnaire and 100% completed the post-course questionnaire. Conclusion: The evidence suggests a significant increase in the student nurses' confidence in recognising, responding and managing an acutely ill patient following the one-day course