Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
-
Ongoing education, an ever-present challenge in a hectic clinical environment, can be addressed by utilizing peer-to-peer education. Enhancing nurses' comfort level with specialty topics can reduce anxiety while enhancing core knowledge and skill proficiency for the provision of safe care. Increased self-confidence in a nurse's ability to detect a new or developing concern can lead to fewer delays in care. Critical problems identified and addressed promptly support better outcomes.
-
Lethal weaponry and tactics used by enemy forces in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom have resulted in complex multisystem injury patterns among US allied military personnel engaged in combat operations. Military medical personnel deployed in support of these campaigns have had to maintain a high degree of clinical skill to effectively render care to wounded combatants, a necessity that has been challenged by a lack of training opportunities within the military health care system. Medical components across the military have formed partnerships with civilian institutions to form programs such as the Saint Louis Center for Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness Skills, in which medical personnel from active and reserve components are able to obtain and build skills needed to respond to contingencies that may arise both abroad and within the homeland.
-
For emergency departments experiencing crowding and a high percentage of patients leaving without being seen, a telephone triage service can provide other care options for low-acuity patients. ⋯ A telephone triage service may help decrease ED crowding by communicating other care options to patients with low-acuity health problems.