Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
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Physician shortages are being projected for most medical specialties. The specialty of emergency medicine continues to experience a significant workforce shortage in the face of increasing demand for emergency care. ⋯ In July 2009, representatives of the leading emergency medicine organizations met in Dallas, TX, for the Future of Emergency Medicine Summit. This consensus document, agreed to and cowritten by all participating organizations, describes the substantive issues discussed and provides a foundation for the future of the specialty.
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The aim of this study was to investigate physicians' and nurses' perspectives and prerequisites for quality improvement in the emergency department based on results from a previous patient survey. ⋯ When assigning priority to the topic areas, most of the focus groups ranked "information, respect, and empathy" as most important to improve. Adequate information, proper care, and treatment within a reasonable time in the emergency department were cited as the goals for patient care, but the health care professionals perceived barriers to change in the hospital culture and organization. To ensure quality care and patient safety, these barriers should be addressed by leaders on all levels in the organization, including the hospital board. Health care professionals' perspectives of quality of care are valuable and should be included in quality improvement work.
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Comparative Study
Diagnostic accuracy of emergency nurse practitioners versus physicians related to minor illnesses and injuries.
Our objectives were to determine the incidence of missed injuries and inappropriately managed cases in patients with minor injuries and illnesses and to evaluate diagnostic accuracy of the emergency nurse practitioners (ENPs) compared with junior doctors/senior house officers (SHOs). ⋯ ENPs showed high diagnostic accuracy, with 97.3% of the patients being correctly diagnosed and managed. No significant differences between nurse practitioners and physicians related to missed injuries and inappropriate management were detected.