Emergency nurse : the journal of the RCN Accident and Emergency Nursing Association
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High impact interventions can be undertaken to improve, and to monitor the effectiveness of, infection control procedures in emergency departments (EDs). Any member of a clinical team can lead on implementing these interventions, although motivating colleagues to take part is sometimes difficult. This article discusses non-compliance with infection control procedures and examines how ED staff can use high impact interventions.
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In the UK, about 260,000 children with head injuries attend emergency departments each year (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) 2007, Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) 2009). About 90 per cent of these injuries are minor and can be managed without admission to hospital (Swann and Teasdale 1999). Clinical guidelines for early management of head injury have recently been published by NICE in England and Wales, and by SIGN in Scotland, to standardise management across the UK. This article discusses the role of emergency nurses in implementing these guidelines.
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The aim of this article is to inform staff who are new to emergency care settings how to use the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) when managing patients with head injuries. It may also be useful as a refresher for experienced staff and a helpful teaching tool. It emphasises the need for continual, standardised assessment of neurological status and emphasises how the GCS is seen as best practice nationally and internationally.
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Prompt treatment of patients with cardiorespiratory arrest can mean the difference between life and death. This article analyses the use of therapeutic hypothermia and aims to educate practitioners about its advantages and disadvantages as an immediate treatment.