ED Nursing Archives – July 1, 2006
July 1, 2006
View Issues
-
ED nurses must stop these triage mistakes that could get them sued
A triage nurse tells the ED physician that two young boys have high fevers and rashes, but fails to mention one crucial fact: that two ticks were removed from one of the boys. As a result, the boy was misdiagnosed with measles when he actually had Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and he died as a result. The ED nurse was held liable for negligent conduct. -
Can you prove you told a physician about symptoms?
If you tell an ED physician that a patient's condition changed for the worse and the patient later sues, can you prove what you said? -
What is policy for 'range' orders? JCAHO will ask
Are nurses in your ED given "range" orders for pain and other medications, without specific dosages and frequency of administration? This prescribing practice puts patients at risk, says Susan F. Paparella, RN, MSN, director of consulting services for the Huntingdon Valley, PA-based Institute for Safe Medication Practices. -
Blood poisoning cases on rise: Ask these questions
A 74-year-old woman presents with slight fever, weakness and confusion. Would you suspect septicemia? -
Pediatric Corner: Use standing orders for pain treatments
If a child comes to your ED in severe pain but without a life-threatening injury or illness, would that child have to wait for hours before receiving pain medications? -
Journal Review
Emergency nurses need to improve documentation of female assault and maltreatment in ED records, says this study from the Michigan Department of Community Health in Lansing. -
News Briefs: Pneumatic tubes cut lab turnaround times
Using a pneumatic tube delivery system for transporting blood samples from the ED to the laboratory can reduce turnaround times significantly, says a recently published study. -
Tip of the Month: Use fanny pack to store trauma supplies
ED nurses at University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City created a fanny pack to use for trauma cases, which puts commonly used drugs at nurses' fingertips. "The trauma pack contains many incidentals that are needed to work a trauma patient," says Alison Wright, RN, BSN, nurse educator for the ED. "It is very helpful because frequently we have five minutes or less to prepare for a patient."