ED Nursing Archives – June 1, 2008
June 1, 2008
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Your next TIA patient is at risk for an untreated stroke: Take these steps
If a patient told you that she was a little dizzy a few hours ago, but she feels absolutely fine now, would you consider this as a life-threatening emergency? If this patient is having a transient ischemic attack (TIA) and leaves your ED, she is at risk of having a full-blown stroke shortly afterward. -
Use color-coded scale to assess children's pain
A color-coded scale is effective at pain assessment in pediatric patients, says a new study that looked at 126 children between 5 and 12 years old presenting to a pediatric ED with acute pain. -
Don't miss 'red flags' for heart failure in females
"The pain was gone, and she said yes, she had gotten a little sweaty during this, 'but doesn't everyone sweat when vacuuming?'" says Joan Somes, PhD, MSN, RN, CEN, FAEN, ED educator at St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Paul, MN. "Fortunately, my guardian angel told me to get an EKG [electrocardiogram] that day. -
Consider lead poisoning if you see these symptoms
If your patient tells you she is taking herbs or ayurvedic remedies, you may consider interactions with prescription drugs, but would you suspect lead poisoning? -
ED nurses uncover 'hidden' cases of CO poisoning
Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning often is overlooked in the ED, in part because symptoms are similar to the flu, but very few EDs screen patients for this condition, says Selim Suner, MD, MS, associate professor of emergency medicine, surgery, and engineering at Brown University and director of disaster medicine in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Rhode Island Hospital, both in Providence. -
For seizure patients, stop 'revolving-door syndrome'
Epilepsy-related hospitalizations rose 43% from 95,000 in 2000 to 136,000 in 2005, with 66% of these patients admitted through the ED, says a new report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. -
Will ED nurses receive the anthrax vaccine?
Bioterrorism experts are calling for the anthrax vaccine to be offered to civilian emergency responders and critical infrastructure public safety workers, which could include emergency nurses. -
Treatment under 30 minutes boosts odds for MI patients
If door-to-needle time is under 30 minutes in your ED, your heart attack patient has a better chance of surviving, says a new study. -
Study finds that 22% of STEMI patients untreated
Of 460 patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) coming to five EDs in Colorado and California between 2000 and 2002, 22% did not receive reperfusion therapy even though they were eligible, according to a new study.