Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
-
Observational Study
Profile and Outcomes of Emergency Department Mental Health Patient Presentations Based on Arrival Mode: A State-Wide Retrospective Cohort Study.
People arriving to the emergency department with mental health problems experience varying and sometimes inferior outcomes compared with people without mental health problems, yet little is known about whether or how their arrival mode is associated with these outcomes. This study describes and compares demographics, clinical characteristics, and patient and health service outcomes of adult mental health emergency department patient presentations, based on arrival mode: brought in by ambulance, privately arranged transport, and brought in by police. ⋯ Discrepancies between arrival modes indicates a need for further investigation to support inter- and intra-agency mental health care interventions.
-
Creating meaningful and engaging learning opportunities can be challenged by budgets, time, and learning management systems with limited methods of interaction. An innovative method was necessary to meet competency evaluation and continuing education needs for emergency department staff. ⋯ Nurse educators can "escape" the monotony of passive learning by using active learning strategies including the fun of gamification to improve clinical skills and confidence.
-
In the emergency department, bedside whiteboards are used to help improve communication, teamwork, and collaboration among health care providers. In addition, previous studies have shown that whiteboards aid the patient with the identification of their health care providers, plan of care, expected length of stay, and overall patient satisfaction. ⋯ Proper materials (markers and erasers) are integral to bedside whiteboard use. Continued staff education on the function of bedside whiteboards may improve proper whiteboard use.
-
Triage is a process by which patients are assessed, classified, and sorted based on their presenting complaint and clinical urgency, providing assurance for timely access to emergency care. The goal is to get the right person to the right place, in the right amount of time, for the right reason, and within the context of resource availability. ⋯ This paper discusses the importance of how triage process standardization improves patient care, resource management, and benchmarking at local, national, and international levels by applying 5 internationally recognized triage systems to fictional case studies. Evaluation of similarities and differences in severity scores, with a gap analysis, occurs.