ED Nursing Archives – February 1, 2003
February 1, 2003
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Is it smallpox? When panicked patients storm the ED, nurses will be the refuge
Are you ready to isolate a case of suspected smallpox, cope with potentially serious side effects from the vaccine, and answer questions from panicked patients? There is no time to hesitate these are things you will have to do soon, because hospitals nationwide have received the official go-ahead to vaccinate staff for smallpox. -
Reserve your smallpox vaccination handbook today
Thomson American Health Consultants now offers the Hospital Handbook on Smallpox Vaccination, a facilitywide resource containing all the information you need about smallpox vaccination in most health care facilities and environments. -
Contraindications listed for smallpox vaccine
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, individuals who have any of the following conditions, or live with someone who does, should NOT get the smallpox vaccine unless they have been exposed to the smallpox virus. -
Don’t allow smallpox to contaminate your ED
Chaotic staffing problems and unexpected side effects aside, the worst case scenario is that a patient with smallpox will present to your emergency department. You need a solid strategy in place before this occurs. Here are some effective strategies. -
Signs of smallpox disease
A list of signs and symptoms from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. -
Don't let sepsis threaten patients — watch for signs
If you were asked to name a leading cause of mortality, sepsis might not come to mind immediately. However, sepsis is the 10th most common cause of death in the United States, and it is increasing due to growing numbers of elderly patients and interventional procedures -
Avoid EMTALA violations: Use these strategies
If your nurses arent up to date on the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), you risk violations that can result in fines of up to $50,000 per violation, lawsuits for personal injury, and possible termination of the hospitals Medicare provider agreement. -
Here are key EMTALA points to know
Here is the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) study guide given to emergency department nurses at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, Melrose Park, IL. -
Avoid problems with conscious sedation
When dealing with conscious sedation, you need to know what medications youre giving, know what response to look for, and know what to do if there is an adverse event. -
ED Nursing Reports: Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) Antibiotic Selection and Management Update
Prompt, aggressive, and adequate supportive care must be provided to patients who present to the hospital with pneumonia, especially the elderly and immunocompromised.