ED Nursing articles from December 2003

ED Nursing archives from December 2003

SARS is 'greatest disaster threat at this moment': make changes now: new CDC guidelines give you updated strategies for the ED.(severe acute respiratory syndrome )
December 1, 2003... EXECUTIVE SUMMARY New guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention contain strategies to limit exposure in EDs if another outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome occurs. * Have symptomatic patients put on masks...

Elder abuse increasing--can you recognize it?
December 1, 2003... EXECUTIVE SUMMARY According to a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, EDs are treating increasing numbers of neglected or abused elders. * In addition to the patient, interview family, friends, or caregivers. ...

Do you know which cases you're required to report?
December 1, 2003... EXECUTIVE SUMMARY You must be aware of reporting laws for child and elder abuse, domestic violence, and drug testing results. * Results of blood alcohol screening or urine toxicology should be released only with the patient's consent....

Do you protect patient privacy during phone calls?
December 1, 2003... EXECUTIVE SUMMARY To comply with patient privacy regulations, patients should be given notices that allow ED staff to disclose their presence and general condition to callers and visitors. * Patients must be given confidentiality upon...

Save thousands by creating your own staff database.(Cost-saving Tip)
December 1, 2003... How would you like to shave thousands of dollars off your ED budget? Develop your own staff-tracking database, recommends Kathy Well, MS, RN, education coordinator for the ED at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Rockville, MD. "Since my...

Create a lifesaving kit to treat bee stings.(Tip Of The Month)
December 1, 2003... ED nurses at Mecosta County General Hospital, a 78-bed hospital in Big Rapids, MI, took quick action when a man came in yelling that his wife, who was still in the car, had been stung by bees and was allergic. "I grabbed a bee sting kit...

Would you recognize a chemical attack?
December 1, 2003... If a chemical attack occurs in your community, you or another ED nurse may be the one to identify it. Thus, you should have a high index of suspicion for terrorism when triaging or assessing patients. "A possible occurrence includes a...

SARS audio program updates guidelines.(severe acute respiratory syndrome)
December 1, 2003... Leading epidemiologists say a global return of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)--which wreaked havoc on the health care systems that had to deal with it--is almost inevitable. The current overriding concern is that SARS will resurface...

CE questions.(continuing education)
December 1, 2003... After reading this issue of ED Nursing, the CE participant should be able to: * Identify clinical, regulatory, or social issues relating to ED nursing (See SARS is 'greatest disaster threat at this moment': Make changes now and Do you know...