Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
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Patients who present to the ED for care and leave without being seen (LWBS) represent a significant problem. The objective of this study was to determine why patients LWBS, how long they perceived waiting versus actual time waited before leaving, and factors that might have prevented LWBS. ⋯ Most would return for future ED care. Most had a physician and were able to obtain care elsewhere. Reduced LWBS might be accomplished by triage testing, communication and attention to pain.