International emergency nursing
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Despite increasing emergency department (ED) use for psychiatric emergencies, limited evidence exists to clearly identify the competencies necessary of emergency nurses to care for this population. ⋯ Emergency nurses perform psychiatric competencies often, and existing competencies appear applicable. As frequency and importance of competencies influence self-efficacy, practice and interventions to underscore the importance of competencies may improve self-efficacy. Younger and less experienced nurses might require more support.
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The aim of this study was to explore the impact of incorporating a physician at triage (PAT) and the implementation of a medical assessment unit (MAU) on emergency department (ED) patient throughput. ⋯ Placing a physician at triage and implementing a medical assessment unit were viable models of care that promoted patient flow and helped meet several time-sensitive health service targets.
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The emergency department (ED) is demanding and high risk. The impact of sleep quantity has been hypothesized to impact patient care. This study investigated the hypothesis that fatigue and impaired mentation, due to sleep disturbance and shortened overall sleeping hours, would lead to increased nursing errors. ⋯ Our study found that ED nurses' sleep quality, immediately prior to a working 12-hour shift, is more predictive of error than sleep quantity. These results present evidence that a "good night's sleep" prior to working a nursing shift in the ED is beneficial for reducing minor errors.
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The levels of care in the Swedish healthcare system comprise self-care, primary care as well as accident and emergency care. The Swedish system of specialist ambulance nurses enables referral by prehospital triage. However, little is known about patients' experiences of not being triaged to the emergency department. ⋯ N-EAC involves a strong need to be taken seriously and listened to when describing one's illness experience. When taken seriously, the patient feels as a competent person. Spending time with the patient is vital as well as listening to and inviting her/him to participate in the decision-making process. However not being taken seriously constitutes an infringement of personal autonomy.