Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
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Acute traumatic shoulder dislocation (ATSD) is a relatively common presentation to the emergency department. Research into nurse-led triage shows emergency nurses to be accurate at identifying patients with bony injuries and follow protocols to expedite appropriate care. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of triage decisions made by emergency nursing staff in cases of confirmed ATSD, in an emergency department in the United Kingdom. ⋯ Significant areas for improvement have been identified in the initial assessment and management of patients with ATSD presenting at triage in the emergency department. The impact of the King's Mill Hospital's integrated care pathway on the quality of triage in ATSD requires further assessment.
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In the United States there is no standardized method for training emergency nurses in manual patient handling, despite the high incidence of injury. The objective of this research was to evaluate several training protocols, including the use of simulated emergency situations and the use of realistic context during course delivery, to evaluate their impact on nurses' postures and compliance with trained procedures during post-training tests. ⋯ The results show that hospitals can reduce the risk of back injury among emergency nurses due to patient handling through specific training in patient handling. The use of contextual training formats reduces injury risk significantly more than does classroom training.
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Emergency Department crowding (EDC), extended wait times, and the issues arising as a result are well described in the health-care literature. Accordingly, reducing waiting times has become a focus across Canada. ⋯ In light of these issues, an innovative program is being trialed at Burnaby Hospital, in the lower mainland of British Columbia. The goals of the program include: a reduction of EDC, a shortening of the duration of time between patient presentation and treatment, and an increase reported levels of patient satisfaction.