Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
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Handoff in the emergency department is considered a high-risk period for medical errors to occur. In response to concerns about the effectiveness of the nursing handoff in the emergency department of a Midwestern trauma center, a practice improvement project was implemented. The process change required nursing handoff at shift changes to be conducted at the bedside, using an adapted situation, background, assessment, recommendation (SBAR) communication tool. ⋯ Results showed that nurses found the SBAR bedside report method easy to use and prevented the loss of patient information more effectively than pre-intervention practice. Despite the strong evidence in the literature supporting bedside handoff, questions remain concerning its sustainability, as some nurses may resist such a change in the process of shift reporting.
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Emergency nurses could assume a unique role in the screening process and provide patient education regarding the consequences of harmful alcohol use. Screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment is an evidence-based method used to identify drinking behaviors that may have a negative impact on people's lives and reduce abuse or dependence on alcohol. ⋯ The emergency department is an integral location for the implementation of screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment because it can decrease injuries and readmissions due to the use of alcohol. Nurses play a key role in implementation because of their unique relationship with their patients. This review of the literature indicated that screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment can be effective in the emergency department and successfully implemented by emergency nurses.
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The emergency department is a fast-paced, high-volume environment, serving patients with diverse and evolving acuities. Personnel providing direct care are continually exposed to pathogenic microorganisms from patients and everyday surfaces, to which the organisms may spread. Indeed, hospital items-such as electronic devices, stethoscopes, and staff clothing-have demonstrated high rates of contamination. Despite this, policies governing the use, disinfection, and wear of various environmental surfaces remain relaxed, vague, and/or difficult to enforce. This study aimed to examine the bacterial contamination on 2 hospital uniform types in a large military hospital within the emergency department. ⋯ Re-evaluating organizational factors (such as uniform policies) that increase the propensity for pathogenic contamination are critical for mitigating the spread and acquisition of multidrug-resistant organisms in the emergency department.