ED Nursing articles from November 2003

ED Nursing archives from November 2003

Do you screen patients for substance abuse? Too many slip through the cracks: study: nurses often omit this intervention; 33% of patients need treatment.
November 1, 2003... EXECUTIVE SUMMARY According to a recent study, about one-third of ED patients need substance abuse treatment, but only 10% are receiving it. * Screen all patients for substance abuse if possible. * Patients at high risk for...

When should you obtain alcohol levels, tox screens?
November 1, 2003... EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Obtain blood alcohol levels and urine toxicology screens if you suspect a patient has a substance abuse problem. * Drugs or alcohol may be contributing to the patient's reason for being in the ED. * If you...

Study: change the way you care for acute MI patients.
November 1, 2003... EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Primary angioplasty decreased death and major complications for heart attack patients who were transferred in order to receive this intervention, as compared with patients who were not transferred and received...

Symptom alert: overdoses and drug interactions.
November 1, 2003... EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Have a high index of suspicion for symptoms caused by prescription or over-the-counter drug overdoses. * Ask patients specifically about vitamins, minerals, herbs they are taking. * Herbal agents can affect blood...

Herbal and dietary supplements patient information.
November 1, 2003... It has been estimated that one-third of adults in the United States use herbal products and spend more than $3 billion annually on these supplements. As many as 70% of patients using complementary medicine (including herbal products) do not...

New study sheds light on anthrax vs. flu.(how to tell one from the other)
November 1, 2003... Do you know how to tell a case of ordinary flu from inhalational anthrax? Failing to do so can have potentially devastating consequences for your ED. A new study from Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York City identifies key...

Save $12,000 with resource drive for ED nurses.(Cost-Saving Tip)
November 1, 2003... Wouldn't you love for ED nurses to have a quick, easy way to access department policies, updates, drip charts, dosing protocols, telephone numbers, and procedures for infrequent ordering processes? "Access to many tidbits of information...

Use this foolproof way to avoid losing resources.(Tip Of The Month)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Do you find that paper resources such as measurement tapes, dosage charts, and clinical pathways often are missing in your ED? If so, try enclosing these items in two panels of an 1/8-inch thick plastic, suggests Teri Howick, RN, nurse educator...

The left-without-being-seen patients: What would keep them from leaving?(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Ann Emerg Med 2003; 42:317-323. By communicating with patients about estimated waiting time and performing immediate treatments for minor injuries or symptoms, you may be able to prevent patients from leaving without being seen, says this...

Emergency department analgesia for fracture pain.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Pain medications frequently are not given to patients with fractures, pain severity scores are often not recorded, and pediatric patients are least likely to receive analgesics, according to this study from the University of Washington and...

CE questions.(continuing education)
November 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 Do you screen patients for substance abuse? Too many slip through the cracks; When...