ED Nursing Archives – November 1, 2008
November 1, 2008
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Another ED waiting room death: Don't let it happen on your watch
(Editor's note: This story is part one of a two-part series on care of psychiatric patients in the ED. This month, we give tips for identifying underlying medical conditions. Next month, we'll share the best ED nursing practices for reassessment during long waits.) -
Stop these risks of a crowded waiting room
Overcrowded EDs make it more important than ever that "triage nurses are on top of their game" with psychiatric patients, says Barbara Morgan, RN, director of emergency services at Cleveland Clinic. -
Do these 10 things for your next psych patient
You have to build a relationship with the psychiatric patient, even in triage, says Barbara Morgan, RN, director of emergency services at Cleveland Clinic. Here are Morgan's tips to improve care of these patients: -
Your next psych patient may need detox help
At Emory Johns Creek (GA) Hospital, ED nurses have noticed that many patients with psychiatric complaints actually are looking for help with drug and alcohol addictions, reports Mickey White, RN, BSN, MBA, director of the ED. -
Don't believe these myths about pediatric traumas
You might see only a handful of pediatric trauma cases every year, but chances are you will see at least one. This is a dangerous "low-volume, but high-risk" patient for most emergency nurses. Here are some common misconceptions about these patients: -
3 ways to train for trauma cases
"Every encounter an ED nurse has with a trauma patient and family makes a definite impression on their lives," says Carrie L. Baumann, RN, BSN, patient care supervisor in the Emergency Department Trauma Center at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. -
Don't forget to calm a young trauma patient
A pediatric trauma patient might come to your ED directly from the scene without any parents or family present. -
Clinical Tips: Don't assume silent child is just scared
After a 4-year old girl came to the ED at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center with an injury from falling off a diving board into a swimming pool, she was in acute respiratory distress, but she had no identified injuries. She had normal vital signs and a Glasgow Coma Score of 15. -
ED catches atypical MI patients with rapid EKGs
At Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center in Richmond, ED nurses implemented a new electrocardiogram (EKG) process for chest pain patients in April 2008. -
142,000 ED patients with antibiotic reactions
If your patient asks for an antibiotic when it's not appropriate, you now have an attention-getting answer to give. A just-published study says adverse events caused by antibiotic use bring 142,000 patients to EDs each year. -
Children at risk for antibiotic reactions
The most common type of antibiotics that cause reactions are penicillin, sulfonamides, and cephalosporins, says Rachel Sweeney, RN, BSN, an ED nurse at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. "Other antibiotics can cause reactions, but not as commonly." -
Study: ED asthma patients get needless antibiotics
Acute asthma patients often are given unnecessary antibiotics in the ED, according to new research. Researchers used data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and the National Emergency Department Safety Study and found that about 20% of acute asthma visits resulted in an antibiotic prescription.