Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
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Lack of work engagement in emergency nurses has been linked to increased job turnover, burnout, and lack of job satisfaction. Shared governance is a vehicle that can be used by emergency nursing leaders to increase work engagement among emergency nurses. Research is lacking about the relationship between perceptions of shared governance and work engagement in emergency nurses. In this study we examined the relationship between ED nurses' perceptions of shared governance and work engagement. ⋯ The study provides beginning evidence on the relationship of shared governance and work engagement in emergency nurses. Understanding the relationship between perceptions of shared governance and work engagement in emergency nurses may assist emergency nursing leaders in developing and testing interventions to enhance it.
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More than 6 million people present to emergency departments across the United States annually with symptoms of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Of the 1 million patients with AMI, 350,000 die during the acute phase. Accurate ED triage can reduce mortality and morbidity, yet accuracy rates are low. In this study we explored the relationship between patient and nurse characteristics and accuracy of triage in patients with symptoms of AMI. ⋯ Of the 9 variables investigated, only patient race, symptom presentation, and emergency nurse age were significant predictors of triage accuracy. Inconsistency in triage decisions may be due to other conditions not yet explored, such as critical thinking skills and executive functions. This study adds to the body of evidence regarding ED triage of patients with symptoms of AMI. However, further exploration into decisions at triage is warranted to improve accuracy, expedite care, and improve outcomes.
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Healthcare providers rely heavily on blood culture results for developing the patient's plan of care. Contaminated blood cultures can lead to unnecessary treatment, unnecessary hospitalization, and an increase in the patient's length of stay. There was a significant increase in our monthly blood culture contamination rates, over a 3 month period of time, which exceeded a recommended standard of <3%, as high as 4.35%. Given the negative impact this could have on patient outcomes, a quality improvement project was developed in order to ensure delivery of the highest quality of care. ⋯ The results show that reducing blood culture contamination rates through the use of a structured plan and teamwork is feasible in the fast-paced emergency department. The commitment from our team was considered the most valuable asset and strategy. Developing a plan that is evidence-based and feasible in the fast paced Emergency Department can help ensure the delivery of high quality care.