Journal of accident & emergency medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Should accident and emergency nurses request radiographs? Results of a multicentre evaluation.
To evaluate whether waiting time in accident and emergency (A&E) departments is shortened when experienced nurses request peripheral limb radiographs before a patient is assessed by a doctor. ⋯ 14 min can be saved by getting the patient to see the nurse first; however, because nurses in three out of four hospitals requested more radiological examinations than doctors, overall only 4 min waiting time was saved when peripheral limb radiographs were requested by nurses. The findings are somewhat against expectations but do identify that specific training and constant monitoring is essential if nurses are to request peripheral limb radiographs, as reflected in hospital C results.
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To assess the management of elderly patients presenting to the accident and emergency (A&E) department with a proximal femoral fracture. ⋯ The fast track system was of benefit to all involved, including the patient, A&E staff, ward staff, and orthopaedic personnel.
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Case Reports
Suicide rate following attendance at an accident and emergency department with deliberate self harm.
To determine the risk of suicide in patients attending an accident and emergency (A&E) department with deliberate self harm. ⋯ There is a significant association between suicide and a previous attendance at A&E with deliberate self harm. Appropriate assessment of these patients is an efficient way of managing self harm.
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To assess the effect of a preprinted form on the documentation of clinical data and compliance with the national guidelines for the management of asthma. ⋯ The preprinted form resulted in enhanced documentation of data and conformity with current guidelines for the management of asthma.
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To determine the current practice of nurse triage in accident and emergency departments in England, and to examine the relation between triage systems and performance in the Department of Health comparative performance guide. ⋯ The national performance figures do not correlate with the quality of the initial assessment; comparisons based on these figures are therefore misleading. More effective performance indicators are available, which would provide a truer indication of the quality of accident and emergency services.