ED Nursing Archives – October 1, 2004
October 1, 2004
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Will your ED comply with safety goals? Don't wait until it's too late
Its the one thing surveyors will be looking for in every corner of your ED during your next survey with the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations: Proof that patients in your ED receive safe care. The Joint Commissions new National Patient Safety Goals for 2005 include new requirements that will affect the ED dramatically. -
Use creative strategies for JCAHO’s medication goal
Whats the toughest new requirement for EDs in the 2005 National Patient Safety Goals from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations? For many ED nurses, thats an easy question: They point without hesitation to the goal requiring that medications are reconciled across the continuum of care. -
Fast treatment of alcohol withdrawal can save lives
Imagine a middle-aged woman who seems a bit nervous and whose hands are shaking slightly. Would you suspect alcohol withdrawal syndrome in this patient? If not detected quickly, the patients symptoms could quickly become life-threatening. -
Pediatric Corner: Are pediatric trauma carts missing essential supplies?
Its the worst pediatric trauma case youve ever seen in your ED: A child has life-threatening injuries from a motor vehicle accident. You rush to gather supplies and notice that the appropriate-sized chest tube is missing. -
Redirect nonurgent patients and comply with EMTALA
Would you like to improve patient flow by decreasing the number of nonurgent patients waiting for care in your already crowded ED waiting room? At University of Colorado Hospital in Denver, physicians and specially trained ED nurses perform an expedited medical screening examination (MSE) after triage but before registration, and they report dramatic results. -
Smart pumps can prevent dangerous drug errors
If there were a way you could substantially reduce the risk of infusion pump errors in your ED, would you do so? Surprisingly, although new technology is available that can prevent adverse outcomes from misprogrammed infusion pumps; only a small number of EDs are using this technology. -
Tip of the Month: Use ‘star’ system to raise nursing morale in the ED
What is likely to be a more powerful morale booster than a pat on the back from your manager? A sincere compliment from a colleague.