Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
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Veterans die by suicide at higher rates than nonveterans. Given that the emergency department is often the first point of entry to healthcare following a suicide attempt, it would be beneficial for community providers to have knowledge of the characteristics, medical issues, and effective treatments most often associated with those having served in the military to ensure guideline concordant and quality suicide care. This study aimed to identify assessment and referral practices of emergency departments at rural community hospitals related to care for suicidal veterans and explore the feasibility and acceptability of identifying veterans in need of postdischarge aftercare. ⋯ Best practices for suicide assessment and management of veterans exist; however, challenges specific to the emergency department regarding staff training and engaging the community to effectively link at-risk veterans to needed care hinder implementation. Veteran-inclusive assessment and intervention practices could enhance the quality of care provided in community emergency departments.
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Contaminated blood cultures may have detrimental effects on patients, the organization, and antimicrobial stewardship. Patients in the emergency department may need blood cultures collected before antimicrobial therapy. Contaminated blood culture samples may contribute to prolonged hospital stay and also are associated with delayed or unnecessary antimicrobial therapy. This initiative aims to improve the emergency department's blood culture contamination rate that will eventually benefit the patients who will receive timely and proper antimicrobial therapy, and benefit the organization fiscally. ⋯ Blood culture contamination rate continued to decrease with the use of a predisinfection process with 2% Chlorhexidine gluconate cloth before blood sample collection process. Practice improvement also was evident with effective feedback mechanism.
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Observational Study
Using Comic-Based Concussion Discharge Instructions to Address Caregiver Health Literacy in the Emergency Department.
This study compared the effectiveness of comic-based with text-based concussion discharge instructions on improving caregiver knowledge. This study also examined the role of social determinants of health on comprehension instructions. ⋯ Novel methods should be explored to adequately prepare caregivers for continuing postconcussive care at home. Discharge instructions must be tailored to address caregivers' baseline health literacy and how caregivers digest and retain information.
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This study aimed to investigate the level of patient involvement in medication reconciliation processes and factors associated with that involvement in patients with cardiovascular disease presenting to the emergency department. ⋯ Some patients presenting to the emergency department demonstrated moderate medication knowledge and involvement in medication discussions, but more work is needed to engage patients.