Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
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Comparative Study Observational Study
Comparative Analysis of Frailty Scales in Emergency Department: Highlighting the Strengths of the Triage Frailty and Comorbidity Tool.
Currently, there is uncertainty about which frailty scale is most appropriate and valid for use in the emergency department. The objective of this study was to compare the most commonly used frailty scales in triage and evaluate their performance. ⋯ The findings of this study suggest that the Triage Frailty and Comorbidity tool is a valid instrument for assessing frailty in the emergency department. Moreover, among the scales used, it is the only 1 that considers the entire adult population, not just those aged >65 years, making it more inclusive for a setting such as the emergency department.
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Distal radius fractures are common injuries managed frequently in emergency departments. While numerous studies focus on the surgical treatment of distal radius fractures, there is a lack of research about non-surgically treated patients' early experiences post-injury. The objective of this study was to explore adult patients' initial experiences following closed reduction treatment of distal radius fracture in the emergency department. ⋯ Effective pain management, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological, as well as comprehensive, clear communication, is crucial in the initial treatment phase of distal radius fracture. Acknowledging patients' broader concerns can enhance the quality of care and support improved recovery outcomes. These findings imply that future emergency nursing practice should prioritize swift and effective pain management, clear and empathetic communication, and a holistic approach to patient care to optimize recovery outcomes.
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Despite routine screening for intimate partner violence and validated screening tools for lethality, intimate partner violence assessment and linkage to services remain inconsistent in health care settings. This program aimed to implement and evaluate a lethality assessment program, a nurse-led screening and prevention program for intimate partner violence homicide in an emergency department that partnered with a local community agency. ⋯ The lethality assessment program is a feasible protocol in a health care setting to increase intimate partner violence awareness, link high-risk intimate partner violence victims to needed services in real time, and potentially reduce intimate partner violence homicides. Programs like this are essential to address this public health concern.
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Over the past 15 years, the emergency nurse practitioner has been recognized as a nursing specialty role with dedicated scope and standards of practice. However, a paucity of objective data exists to validate the actual practice of emergency nurse practitioners in the emergency care setting. The purpose of this pilot study was to describe the initial acuity of patients assigned to emergency nurse practitioners, actions, decisional complexity, and disposition decisions of advanced practice nurses as they function in emergency departments in a single system. ⋯ Although descriptive, this study is highly illustrative of the broad scope of complex skills and clinical decision making required to perform as an advanced practice nurse in the emergency department. Further examination of education and training is warranted.
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This study aimed to explore how nurses experience relational work in the emergency department. ⋯ Relational care in the emergency department is optional and individually performed. Moreover, emergency nurses lack a vocabulary to express this type of work. Consequently, there is a risk that patients' psychosocial needs are not sufficiently met. According to the emergency nurses participating in this study, nurses fall short when performing and describing relational care. Nurses need more knowledge to address the psychosocial patient needs during short-term hospital admissions. Relational care and patient centeredness also need to be acknowledged by nursing leaders and further developed.