Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
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Observational Study
Using Simulation to Assess the Impact of Triage Interruptions.
Interruptions are common in the emergency department and contribute to catastrophic errors. Care priorities and acuity levels are assigned during triage, meaning that mistakes and omissions during the triage process could have detrimental effects on patients. The purpose of this project was to assess the feasibility of investigating the impact of interruptions on triage and the decision-making process in a simulated setting. ⋯ This study provides the basis for future work that looks at how nurses successfully manage interruptions and tests interventions to assist triage nurses in managing or reducing interruptions during this important patient assessment process.
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Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a complex illness with many social-behavioral co-morbidities. The aim of this project was to describe unmet social-behavioral health needs for adults with SCD who presented to the emergency department for treatment of vaso-occlusive episodes (VOEs). ⋯ Many patients with SCD who are treated in the emergency department have social or behavioral health risk factors. Emergency departments have an opportunity to screen and refer patients for follow-up. Future research should investigate referral outcomes and their effect on ED and hospital use.