Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
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Intimate partner violence is a public health problem, and emergency departments are often a victim's only contact with health care providers. Despite this, recognition of intimate partner violence within emergency departments remains low owing, in part, to barriers experienced by providers. To better understand these barriers, this study examined relationships between readiness for managing intimate partner violence and cultural competence among emergency department health care providers. ⋯ Overall, participants were found to have low perceived readiness scores. Those with previous intimate partner violence training were found to have greater readiness in practice, suggesting that standardization of screening practices and intimate partner violence-related training should be the standard of care. Our data also suggest that perception of culturally competent behaviors and communication are learned skills that can increase screening rates within the emergency department.
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Helmet continuous positive airway pressure is a simple, noninvasive respiratory support strategy to treat several forms of acute respiratory failure, such as cardiogenic pulmonary edema and pneumonia. Recently, it has been largely used worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ We focus our attention on how to set the respiratory circuit. Moreover, we discuss the interactions between flow generators, filters, and positive end-expiratory pressure valves and the consequences regarding the delivered gas flow, fraction of inspired oxygen, positive end-expiratory pressure, and noise level.
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Previous research describes a significant knowledge deficit in obstetrical care in emergency settings. In a post-Roe environment, additional medicolegal challenges are documented across the obstetrics and gynecology landscape, but an understudied care setting is the emergency department, where patients may present to a practice environment where there is limited or no obstetrical care available. It is unknown how emergency nurses make decisions around these types of presentations. The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical decision-making processes of emergency nurses in the care of patients with obstetrical emergencies in the context of limited or absent access to abortion care and the impact of those processes on patient care. ⋯ We found that emergency nurses in states with abortion care-limiting laws had significant self-reported deficits in both education and training around the management of obstetrical emergencies. In this sample, there was a surprising lack of awareness of care-limiting legislation and the clinical, ethical, and legal implications for both emergency care staff and for patients.
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Observational Study
Hemolyzed Laboratory Specimens in the Emergency Department: An Underappreciated, but Frequent Problem.
Hemolysis of blood samples from emergency department (ED) patients leads to delays in treatment and disposition. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of hemolysis and variables predictive of hemolysis. ⋯ This large observational analysis demonstrates that lab hemolysis of is a frequent occurrence among ED patients. Given the added risk of hemolysis with certain placement variables, clinicians should consider catheter gauge/placement location to avoid hemolysis that may result in patient care delays and prolonged hospital stays.