Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
-
The delivery of emergency medical services is primarily performed by emergency medical technicians and paramedics in the United States. More recently, nurses and physicians have become more involved in the delivery of emergency medical services. Advanced placement paramedic education bridging programs have been developed to prepare the workforce, but the success of these programs is unknown. This study evaluated the demographics and performance of nonemergency medical services health care professionals who attended an advanced placement paramedic education program at a Midwestern university. ⋯ The advanced placement paramedic program evaluated in this study had high rates of successful program completion, as well as high first-time and cumulative passing rates for the National Paramedic Certification Examination. Further research is needed to identify the best practices in determining student requirements and the methodologies in delivering advanced placement paramedic education bridging programs.
-
In recent decades, major competency shifts have taken place in prehospital care in Sweden because staffing ambulances with registered/specialized nurses has become a priority. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a new instrument to measure the self-reported professional competency of specialist ambulance nursing students and registered/specialist nurses working in prehospital care. ⋯ The ANC scale was systematically tested and showed satisfactory psychometrical properties. The ANC scale can be used in the education programs of future registered/specialist ambulance nurses as a tool for self-reflected learning and could also be of potential use in identifying competence gaps in registered/specialist ambulance nurses, which could direct the design of introductory programs. The scale could also be used as an outcome measure together with other instruments.
-
Super-utilizers comprise 4.5% to 8% of all ED patients, but account for 21% to 28% of all ED visits. Excessive use of the emergency department contributes to increased health care costs, recurrent and unnecessary ED workup, decreased emergency readiness, and reduced staff morale. ⋯ Personalized care plans effectively decreased the number of ED visits, reduced health care expenditure, and were well-received by the staff.
-
Sudden cardiac death in the young is devastating for the family and the community. Although it has diverse etiologies, many are inherited. ⋯ Careful assessment of the history of present illness, family history, and electrocardiogram can guide clinical teams toward sometimes rare and difficult diagnoses. The purpose of this review article is to summarize the bench to bedside diagnosis of inherited dysrhythmia syndromes, which if missed on first presentation to the emergency department, have significant implications for the patient and the entire family.