Adolescent appropriate care in an adult hospital: the use of a youth care plan.

OBJECTIVE: This paper explores the development of a specific youth care plan which provides a framework for adolescent appropriate care in an adult acute care facility.

SETTING: The Sydney South Western Area Health Service (SSWAHS) Youth Consultancy, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH), Camperdown, Sydney, Australia.

SUBJECTS: Young people aged 12- 24 years who were admitted to the acute hospital setting at RPAH. Approximately 2500 young people are admitted as in-patients to RPAH each year.

PRIMARY ARGUMENT: Adolescents are a unique population with different developmental and health care needs. Adult acute care facilities are often ill-equipped to deal with the complex developmental needs of young people and need guidance and education to provide appropriate care for this population. Nurses play a pivotal role in caring for hospitalised young people. A developmentally relevant youth care plan may be an appropriate and effective tool to facilitate best-practice nursing.

CONCLUSIONS: The Youth Care Plan was developed to provide a framework for developmentally appropriate assessment and care for young patients admitted to RPAH. This care plan also provides a mechanism for referrals to the Youth Consultancy team, which provides continuous education, consultation and liaison for staff related to both the Youth Care Plan and general adolescent health. The Youth Care Plan is regularly audited and has been trialled as a registered Continuous Quality Improvement project of RPAH.