Emergency nurse : the journal of the RCN Accident and Emergency Nursing Association
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Carbon monoxide (CO) is a toxic gas usually formed during the incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuels. Poisoning by CO can be fatal or lead to long-term debilitating cardiovascular, respiratory and neuropsychological conditions. ⋯ This article alerts emergency nurses to the signs and symptoms of CO poisoning and discusses the use of non-invasive CO-monitoring devices to confirm levels of CO in patients' blood and exhaled air. It also considers the case for early CO monitoring in emergency care settings.
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Working in emergency departments (EDs) is inherently stressful, and stress caused by events such as witnessed death, elder or child abuse, and aggression and violence can have profound effects on staff. One strategy that can be effective in helping staff deal with such events is critical incident stress debriefing but, as the literature suggests, this is poorly established in ED settings. This article reports the results of a study in three EDs in Ireland of nurses' and doctors' perceived needs for debriefing and makes recommendations to improve this area of practice.
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Emergency department (ED) crowding is a common problem throughout the western world. Not only does crowding create a miserable environment for patients, and to considerable stress and poor job satisfaction among staff, it can also lead EDs to breach the four-hour standard and other care quality indicators. In addition, crowding in EDs correlates with increases in patient mortality, rates of admission, lengths of inpatient stay and costs. This article argues that crowding is best tackled by the consistent application of eight principles, derived from various guidance, to emergency patient pathways, particularly those in acute settings.
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Use of cement is widespread in the UK and warnings about burns caused by contact with the material are usually printed on bags and delivery dockets. Nevertheless, about 2 per cent of people admitted to burns units have injuries, many serious, caused by prolonged contact with wet cement. This article explores the pathophysiology of cement burns, and outlines the best forms of treatment and prevention.