ED Nursing Archives – September 1, 2010
September 1, 2010
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Don't overlook clinical needs of homeless patients in your ED
Each time a homeless person comes to your ED, you are faced with many challenges. Your patient is likely to have poor hygiene, multiple chronic medical problems, no funds for prescriptions, no transportation, and also might be intoxicated. -
Stop needless ED visits with smart discharge
You gave your patient thorough discharge instructions, verbal and written, but are you sure he or she really understands them? -
Suspect a fall although an elder says otherwise?
If an elder patient denies falling, would you take the answer at face value or probe further? -
Prepare before you have a difficult intubation
When a man was transferred to the ED at St. John's Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis, MO, with burns and possible inhalation involvement, his room air saturation was in the lower 90% while remaining on a non-rebreather. -
Many EDs non-compliant with asthma guidelines
Many ED nurses are apparently not following guidelines for pulmonary function testing and asthma medications, according to a recent study. -
Avoid a terrible outcome with ED patient transport
While Sabrina Jung, RN, was transporting an uncontrolled seizure patient from the ED at St. Anthony's Medical Center in St. Louis, MO, for a CT scan, the patient had another seizure. -
News Briefs: Remember unique needs of elder stroke patients
Older ED stroke patients are at substantially higher risk for adverse clinical outcomes, including in-hospital mortality, warns Gregg C. Fonarow, MD, director of the Ahmanson University of California-Los Angeles Cardiomyopathy Center.