ED Nursing Archives – October 1, 2009
October 1, 2009
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It's official: More stroke patients must now be given thrombolytics in your ED
The day started out routinely: A 77-year-old man had breakfast with his wife, who left at 8:45 a.m. to run errands and returned at 11 a.m. -
Don't assume your patient's stroke history is correct
Next time you ask an older adult about a history of stroke, consider that the response might not be accurate. Older adults might deny a history of stroke, when in fact they have had one. -
In pediatrics, don't miss abnormal blood pressure
The complex chart used to identify hypertension in children might be one reason why nearly 75% of cases of hypertension in children and adolescents go undiagnosed, according to David C. Kaelber, MD, PhD, MPH, chief medical informatics officer at The MetroHealth System in Cleveland. -
Getting a verbal order? Take these precautions
Have you ever disagreed with a physician about the exact words that were used with a verbal order he or she gave? -
Put a stop to dangerous practices for ED transports
An ED patient with an intravenous line with heparin medication being administered by pump was brought for an X-ray, but not by an ED nurse. The unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) transporting the patient inadvertently opened the pump to remove the patient's gown. -
Give some privacy to hallway hold patients
Is your patient better off in the ED waiting room, or in the hallway? -
In over your head with a critically ill inpatient?
More and more, emergency nurses are being put in a dangerous position when caring for inpatients, says Deborah M. Dixon, RN, MSN, APN, ED educator at Summa Health System in Akron, OH. -
Don't underestimate fall injuries in elderly
ED nurses see 47,000 elderly patients each year for injuries from falls involving use of walkers and canes, says a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that examined six years of ED medical records.1 Most (87%) of the injuries involved walkers. Older women were more likely to be injured than men; they sustained 78% of walker-related injuries and 66% of cane-related injuries. -
Should you document a patient's exact words?
An emergency nurse was named in a malpractice lawsuit, accused of failing to protect a patient by allowing her fall out of a geriatric chair. -
With HIN1 vaccine shortage expected, highest-risk groups go to front of line
With a vaccine shortage projected for novel H1N1 influenza A, only the highest priority groups are likely to be offered the shot when initial lots are cleared for distribution this fall.