Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
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Comparative Study
Blood Withdrawal from Intravenous Catheters by ED Nurses: Comparison of Two Practices.
ABSTRACT PROBLEM: Laboratory tests are essential to diagnosis and treatment in the emergency department, but they can result in prolonged waiting times for patients, multiple needle pricks, and complaints about pain and discomfort. The goal of this project is to assess if a change in the blood collection process will lead to any improvement and benefit in care delivered with regard to time, patient comfort, and cost. ⋯ Allowing registered nurses to withdraw blood with the start of a peripheral intravenous line will significantly reduce length of stay and costs and enhance patient experience in the emergency department at American University of Beirut Medical Center.
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• Nurses are uniquely situated to critically evaluate quality and performance measures, identify opportunities for improvement, and recommend potential corrective inverventions within the emergency department. • Nurses can actively contribute to performance improvements that increase quality of care, improve patient outcomes and satisfaction, and reduce institutional liability and risk. • Establishment of a systematic process to identify deficiencies, evaluate problems, and develop solutions is vital to continuous quality improvement. ⋯ Formation of a panel of skilled nurses to assess problems and recommend potential solutions may represent a useful approach for active nurse participation in quality improvement in the emergency department, thus having a meaningful impact on patient outcomes and hospital liability.