Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
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Review Case Reports
Hypertriglyceridemia-Induced Pancreatitis and a Lipemic Blood Sample: A Case Report and Brief Clinical Review.
Hypertriglyceridemia is the third most common cause of acute pancreatitis after gallstones and long-term alcohol use. There are specific therapeutic options unique to hyperglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis, such as continuous insulin therapy and plasmapheresis, emphasizing the importance of identifying hypertriglyceridemia as the cause. ⋯ Lipemic samples may interfere with laboratory equipment, resulting in erroneous levels or the inability to measure several serum blood tests. Consider hypertriglyceridemia as a cause for acute pancreatitis in the setting of a lipemic blood sample or when gallstones have been excluded.
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Charge nurses (CNs) are shift leaders who manage resources and facilitate patient care, yet CNs in EDs receive minimal training, with implications for patient safety and emergency nursing practice. The purpose of the study was to describe the experiences of emergency nurses related to training, preparation, and function of the CN role. ⋯ The ED CN is critical to the safety of both nursing environment and patient care. Nurses in this pivotal role do not receive adequate leadership orientation or formal training in the key areas of nurse patient assignment, communication, and situational awareness. Formal training in nurse-patient assignment, communication, and situational awareness are critical to appropriate patient care and maintenance of interprofessional trust necessary for successful execution of the CN role. ED nurse managers should advocate for this training.
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The use of personal protective equipment increased rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2019. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of uninterrupted 4-hour use of internationally certified nonvalved filtering facepiece respirators on venous blood gas in health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ Continuous nonvalved filtering facepiece respirator use for 4 hours was not associated with clinician impairment in blood gas and peripheral SpO2 levels during nonexertional clinical ED work.
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The overarching objective of this scoping review was to explore the breadth of health care literature in attempts to identify current strategies that hospitals adopt to improve patient bed flow, reduce access and exit block while optimizing patient care. ⋯ This study addressed aims and identified current strategies that hospitals adopt to tackle access block while guaranteeing patient care. Government-supported research to map out evidence-based models of care that address exit block and demonstrate efficiencies is required to optimize access to care in the community.