Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
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Review Case Reports
Droperidol- and ondansetron-induced life-threatening arrhythmias.
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Obtaining an actual weight is critical to accurate medication dosing. Knowledge of length/height is critical to equipment sizing. ⋯ Having a process in place that works with the layout, medical record, and budget of the department increases safety for the patient and may improve outcomes, and if the process is led by staff champions, acceptance of the process may be faster. Regardless of the actual method, patient safety and staff satisfaction can be improved with a simple process that prepares for an emergency in pediatric care.
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The purpose of this integrative review is to identify the effectiveness of using triage protocols to decrease ED length of stay. The review method described by Ganong was used to guide the review process. Data sources included CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), Medline, the Cochrane Library, Mosby's Nursing Consult, and the National Guideline Clearinghouse. ⋯ Key conclusions drawn from the appraisals included that a decrease in length of stay was related to protocol use and nurses were able to initiate diagnostic testing and treatments appropriately. These conclusions apply to acuity levels 3 and 4, which require either little or no testing or require testing to facilitate a disposition decision. The implications for nursing are that appraisals of evidence lead to better practice decisions, protocols can provide greater nursing autonomy and satisfaction, and protocols are able to increase the facilitation of patient care in the emergency department.