Australasian emergency nursing journal : AENJ
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Injury is a leading cause of mortality, hospitalised morbidity and disability in Australia and New Zealand. Of the many public health challenges facing clinicians on a daily basis, traumatic injury is one of the most significant. ⋯ This paper provides an overview of the history and epidemiology of traumatic injury in Australia and New Zealand. The reading of this article and completion of revision questions is equivalent to 2h of self-directed learning.
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Australas Emerg Nurs J · Feb 2012
Prospective validation of a predictive model that identifies homeless people at risk of re-presentation to the emergency department.
To prospectively evaluate the accuracy of a predictive model to identify homeless people at risk of representation to an emergency department. ⋯ The high emergency department re-presentation rate for people who were homeless identifies unresolved psychosocial health needs. The emergency department remains a vital access point for homeless people, particularly after hours. The risk screening tool is key to identify medical and social aspects of a homeless patient's presentation to assist early identification and referral.
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Australas Emerg Nurs J · Feb 2012
Characteristics of effective interventions supporting quality pain management in Australian emergency departments: an exploratory study.
It is well established that pain is the most common presenting complaint in Emergency Departments. Despite great improvements in available pain management strategies, patients are left waiting for longer than 60min for pain relief on arrival to the emergency department. The aim of this study was to describe interventions that lead to successful implementation of the National Health and Medical Research Council approved guidelines Acute Pain Management: Scientific Evidence (2nd Edition) that include specific recommendations for best practice pain management. ⋯ This study highlighted how an effective framework to plan and implement practice change and tailored interventions, including education and training systems and products using the best available evidence, best equipped clinicians to manage pain in the ED.
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Australas Emerg Nurs J · Feb 2012
Opportunistic childhood vaccinations in emergency--are we really missing anyone?
Every health service presentation of a child should be considered an opportunity to ensure optimal immunisation. Measures to limit missed opportunities for vaccination in local emergency departments (ED) should reflect the scale of opportunity and parental support of immunisation service delivery strategies. ⋯ There were missed opportunities to vaccinate a small proportion of children in ED. Parents provided a more accurate timely history of immunisation status than ACIR and thus ED staff should ensure that parents are always asked whether their child is fully vaccinated and provide or encourage vaccination.