Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
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The accuracy of an initial ED triage decision has been reported to drive the clinical trajectory for ED patients, and, therefore, this assessment is critical to patient safety. The Emergency Severity Index-a 5-point score assigned by a triage nurse and based on disease acuity, patient potential for decompensation, and anticipated resource use-is used both in the United States and internationally. In the US, the Emergency Severity Index is used by up to 94% of the academic medical center emergency departments. In 2020, the Emergency Nurses Association acquired the intellectual property rights to the Emergency Severity Index and is responsible for its maintenance and improvement. ⋯ The research priorities as set through the use of this modified Delphi process align well with current gaps in the literature. Research in these areas should be encouraged to improve the understanding of educational, environmental, and process challenges to emergency nurses' triage decisions and accuracy of Emergency Severity Index assignments.
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Nurse educators are confronted with ensuring skills competency and staff compliance to support the provision of safe and quality care. The ED setting presents additional challenges when conducting skills competency training. One military hospital's emergency department implemented a method of frequent, concise skills training sessions to overcome barriers unique to the ED setting; the same method was then implemented at a second military organization owing to the effectiveness of the training approach to increase staff compliance. This article outlines the methods for the implementation of frequent, concise skills training sessions, and it displays the cost savings and increased compliance experienced by the 2 health care organizations after the implementation of this frequent, concise skills training method.
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The PowerFlow implantable apheresis intravenous port is a venous access device for therapeutic apheresis procedures. In this case review article, we identify key similarities and differences between apheresis PowerFlow ports and traditional ports. We also list strategies that emergency departments can implement to aid in correct port identification. ⋯ When a patient with a history of apheresis procedures presents with an implanted port, steps should be taken to ensure correct identification and access.