ED Nursing Archives – February 1, 2009
February 1, 2009
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ED nurses made 54% of drug errors — You're the 'last safety net' for patients
A patient is mistakenly given tenectaplase, an investigational drug, due to it being a "look-alike," with proper protocols not followed. -
Is your 'low-acuity' patient at risk during long waits?
If a patient comes to your ED with a fractured wrist, you'd probably triage them as low acuity based solely on their chief complaint. -
Young children with asthma more likely to revisit EDs
Children under 2 years old with asthma are more likely than other children to return to the ED within seven days, according to a recent analysis of 4,228 visits.1 -
Can point-of-care testing save your patient's life?
Point-of-care tests done by ED nurses at triage or the patient's bedside are increasing "both in terms of use and diversity," according to Darlene Matsuoka, RN, MN, CEN, CCRN, ED clinical nurse educator at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. -
ED nurses do MSEs to cut triage delays
[Editor's note: This is the first of a two-part series on medical screening examinations (MSEs) performed by emergency nurses. This month, we report on two EDs that have implemented this practice. Next month, we'll cover the potential liability risks of nurse-performed MSEs and how to them.] -
Gain a child's trust to obtain accurate history
To obtain an accurate history from a child, you need to gain their trust, just as you do with adult patients that are in crisis, says Freda Lyon, RN, BSN, MHA, service line administrator at Bixler Emergency Center in Tallahassee, FL.