ED Nursing articles from November 2006

ED Nursing archives from November 2006

Take steps, avoid self-harm, lawsuits from long waits by psych patients.
November 1, 2006... Take steps, avoid self-harm, lawsuits from long waits by psych patients Crowded waiting rooms result in 'incredible tension' Longer wait times than ever before and dramatic increases in numbers of psychiatric patients. These two trends...

Cut delays by 50 minutes with triage pulse oximetry.
November 1, 2006... Cut delays by 50 minutes with triage pulse oximetry Impact on ED flow is dramatic Most ED nurses don't measure pulse oximetry levels at triage, but this assessment can have a dramatic impact on patient flow, says a new study....

New anticoagulants are revamping care in EDs.(Emergency Departments)
November 1, 2006... New anticoagulants are revamping care in EDs Nurses moving away from heparin New anticoagulants, including low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) and nonheparin compounds, are changing the way ED nurses care for patients with acute...

Overuse of pain meds can be life-threatening.
November 1, 2006... Overuse of pain meds can be life-threatening (Editor's note: This is the second of a two-part series on caring for ED patients who are abusing prescription or over-the-counter drugs. Last month, we gave strategies for screening and...

Surveyors focus on disaster planning, medication safety.
November 1, 2006... Surveyors focus on disaster planning, medication safety During a recent Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) survey at Baylor All Saints Medical Center in Fort Worth, TX, surveyors walked into the ED's main...

Pediatric Corner: Which trauma patients need fluid resuscitation?
November 1, 2006... Which trauma patients need fluid resuscitation? Fluid bolusing not as critical in pediatric patients The rules for which trauma patients require fluid resuscitation are different for children than adults, says a new study. Due to the...

Most ED nurses aren't getting the flu shot.(Emergency Department)
November 1, 2006... Most ED nurses aren't getting the flu shot According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only about 40% of health care workers are vaccinated each year for influenza.1 Unvaccinated nurses can spread...

Be sure your EMTALA education is up to par.(Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act)
November 1, 2006... Be sure your EMTALA education is up to par Knowledge of the requirements of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) is lacking in the emergency department, according to a recent study.1 Researchers surveyed 123 ED...

CE objectives/questions.
November 1, 2006... CE/objectives/questions Participants who complete this activity will be able to: *identify clinical, regulatory, or social issues relating to ED nursing; *describe how those issues affect nursing service delivery; *integrate...