Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
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The emergency department is a care environment in which indwelling urinary catheters are placed frequently; however, the significance of the role of the emergency department in catheter-associated urinary tract infection prevention has been overlooked. The use of an external female urinary catheter is an alternative to placing an indwelling urinary catheter for female patients in the emergency department who are incontinent of urine or are immobile. The purpose was to describe the implementation of an initiative to decrease the number of indwelling urinary catheters and increase the use of external urinary female catheters in non-critically ill women who visited the emergency department at a 451-bed Magnet-designated community hospital in the Southeast. ⋯ A total of 187 external catheters were used in place of indwelling catheters in female patients over a 3-month period. No skin irritation or breakdown was observed. This project demonstrated the initial staff acceptability and feasibility of external female urinary catheter use in the ED setting.
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New Zealand has an ethnically diverse population and continues to host immigrants from different countries. The present study aimed to examine the factors associated with ED use among new Asian immigrants in New Zealand. ⋯ Asthma and perceived health status were the 2 key factors associated with ED use among new Asian immigrants in New Zealand. ED use among new Asian immigrants encompassed both chronic health conditions and mental health indicators.
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The transgender population presents a unique challenge for the emergency nurse. There are types of surgeries, medications, complications, and differences in laboratory testing that are unique to transgender people. ⋯ Yet, many emergency nurses lack the formal training to care for transgender patients and their families. A complete understanding of the terminology, gender-transforming surgeries, hormonal suppression and augmentation of sexual characteristics, adverse effects, complications of surgeries, and ongoing health risks owing to the altered hormonal milieu and potential risk for acquiring sexually transmitted diseases is important to provide the necessary emergency care for this emerging population.
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Review
Understanding ED Buprenorphine Initiation for Opioid Use Disorder: A Guide for Emergency Nurses.
Opioid use disorder is a critical public health problem that continues to broaden in scope, adversely affecting millions of people worldwide. Significant efforts have been made to expand access to medication therapy for opioid use disorder, in particular buprenorphine. ⋯ With expanded understanding of opioid use disorder, withdrawal, and available treatments, emergency nurses will be better prepared to deliver and support life-saving treatments for patients and families suffering from this disease. In addition, emergency nurses are well positioned to play an important role in public health advocacy around opioid use disorder, providing critical support for destigmatization and expanded access to safe and efficacious treatments.