Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
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Emergency nurses are at risk for secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, and burnout as a result of witnessing the trauma and suffering of patients. The traumatic events perceived as being most stressful for emergency nurses involve sudden death, children, and adolescents. Multicasualty, school-associated shooting events are, therefore, likely to affect emergency nurses, and recent reports indicate an increase in multicasualty, school-associated shootings. This research is necessary to learn of emergency nurses' experiences of caring for patients from a school shooting event in an effort to benefit future preparedness, response, and recovery. This manuscript describes these experiences and provides opportunities for nurses, peers, and leaders to promote mental health and resilience among emergency nurses who may provide care to patients after such events. ⋯ The results identified through this research may be translated to policies and practice to improve emergency nurses' welfare, coping, resilience, and retention. Patient outcomes may also be improved through planning and preparedness.
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Emergency department encounters are an opportunity to distribute naloxone kits to patients at risk of opioid overdose. Several programs cite mixed uptake and implementation barriers including staff education and burden. Emergency nurses can facilitate many approaches to naloxone distribution (eg, prescription, overdose education, dispensing take-home naloxone). To evaluate acceptance, we investigated nurse perceptions about take-home naloxone, describing potential barriers to program implementation. ⋯ Perceptions and moral distress may be a barrier to ED-based take-home naloxone programs. Development of interventions targeting naloxone misperceptions and addiction stigma should be a goal of expanded implementation efforts.