ED Nursing Archives – February 1, 2011
February 1, 2011
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Which acute MI patients are most at risk for mistriage? Identify them
A female patient told ED nurses that her only complaint was back pain, with no shortness of breath, chest pain, discomfort, nausea, or vomiting. -
Pediatric Corner: Don't miss emergencies in 'challenging' teens
"More and more" preteen and adolescent patients are coming to the Emergency Department Trauma Center at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee with a variety of psychosocial needs, and many have underlying medical conditions as well, says Carrie L. Baumann, RN, BSN, patient care supervisor. -
Change in elder's vitals? Consider medications
An 85-year-old man who reports vomiting and diarrhea after an injury, and also happens to be on beta blockers, might have a blood pressure of 120/70 and heart rate of 82 and "look absolutely normal, even though in reality he is hypotensive and tachycardic, and he is in shock," says Justin Milici, RN, MSN, CEN, CPEN, CFRN, CCRN, TNS, education specialist for the ED at Methodist Dallas Medical Center. -
Do you verify patient's documented weight?
After a child was diagnosed with acute appendicitis at St. John's Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis, MO, the ED physician ordered antibiotics and dosed the patient according to the weight that was in her chart. -
Beware of harm from insulin mixups
Errors involving insulin were commonly reported to Pennsylvania's Patient Safety Authority in 2010, with 52% of 2695 events leading to a patient possibly having received the wrong dose or no dose, and 49 resulting in harm to the patient. -
Warning! Is your asthma patient normal?
A mother rushes into your ED and states that her child is having an asthma attack, but the child seems to be breathing normally.