Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Can emergency nurses' triage skills be improved by online learning? Results of an experiment.
Emergency nurses deal with increasing complexity of patients. In 2003 there were over 14 million ED visits in Canada. The Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS) is a 5-level system used by ED triage nurses to classify patients. There is a need for standardized training for all triage systems. In an effort to improve access to CTAS training, a 6-week Web-based CTAS workshop was developed. We determined the impact of Web learning on the accuracy of the triage skills of registered nurses (RNs). ⋯ Web learning can help professionals maintain competency and support professional practice. Further research is needed to provide evidence for best practices in E-learning for RNs. The accuracy of the RN's triage assessment impacts patient health, hospital accreditation, and funding.
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The Surviving Sepsis Campaign outlines the elements of early goal-directed therapy when treating patients with sepsis in the emergency department. The success of these guidelines relies on their implementation in order to attain optimal patient outcomes. The purpose of this article is to review the literature regarding the implementation of the sepsis guidelines in emergency departments. ⋯ This review provides some factors important for the successful implementation of the Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines. Operational and system issues significantly influenced the success of implementing sepsis protocols or bundles. More research is needed to overcome barriers to implementing early goal-directed therapy and to uncover which elements of the guidelines are most important and feasible to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
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Multicenter Study
Implementing clinical research in the high acuity setting of the emergency department.
Clinical research in the emergency department provides supporting evidence needed for the development of practice guidelines, such as door-to-needle and door-to-balloon times for treatment of acute coronary syndromes, and is vital to improvements in patient outcomes. The purpose of this article is to describe barriers and lessons learned in launching a multisite clinical research study of symptoms of acute coronary syndromes in the emergency department. ⋯ Important strategies to overcome barriers were developed, including identification and support of unit champions in emergency nursing and medicine; minor protocol modifications to improve enrollment goals; development of specific written expectations, roles, research protocols, and algorithms; and sharing successes among sites.
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Every other year, the International Council of Nurses convenes a conference. In 2011 it was held in Malta, and Diane Gurney, RN, MS, CEN, ENA Past President, attended to represent ENA. In this article Diane and Paul Calleja, MSc(Manchester) Nurs, BSc (Hons) Nurs, Dip Nurs, Malta Emergency Nurses Association (MENA) International Relationship Officer, describe this visit, the significant nursing history in Malta, emergency nursing, and MENA.
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Disasters of any variety can occur at any given moment. Emergency departments are at the forefront of the response system, serving as the gateway to the most appropriate care of victims. The intent of the survey described in this article was to assess nurses' perception of their role in a disaster and their perceived susceptibility to a disaster. In addition, basic knowledge and role preparation was reviewed. ⋯ This article highlights the importance of disaster education geared to the needs of the emergency nurse.