Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
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Following the COVID-19 pandemic, a community emergency department was facing a staffing crisis with new emergency registered nurse turnover rates as high as 83.3%. There were limited experienced emergency nurses available to train the large number of novice nurses hired to fill vacancies. Based on this, the emergency department needed to restructure the orientation process to better align with evidence-based strategies and available resources. ⋯ Based on the outcomes of this initiative, an emergency nurse internship is an effective method to improve emergency nurse competence and retention, contributing to a healthier work environment.
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Workplace violence is a pervasive, perpetual, and underreported problem in the emergency department. Nurses experience devastating physical and psychological consequences owing to workplace violence exposure. Understanding workplace violence is challenging due to nurse underreporting. Improvement in capturing workplace violence cases can help drive data-informed, sustainable solutions to workplace violence prevention. The purpose of this project was to better capture the full extent of workplace violence in the emergency department through enhanced nurse workplace violence reporting. ⋯ A multi-interventional approach, coupled with a feasible, readily available electronic reporting instrument, enhanced ED workplace violence reporting and facilitated a better capture of ED workplace violence. Although nurse underreporting is still likely occurring, an emergence of workplace violence data trends can provide data-driven solutions in workplace violence prevention. Continued efforts to reduce the barriers that inhibit reporting are needed to foster a safe and supportive culture surrounding workplace violence reporting.
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Moral distress affects registered nurses' job dissatisfaction, and may ultimately be associated with higher rates of turnover. Nurse-physician relationships have been shown to affect moral distress in the intensive care unit setting, but no research has evaluated this impact on emergency nurses. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of nurse-physician relationships on the moral distress of emergency nurses. ⋯ Given current staffing shortages and the need to retain expert nurses in high-acuity settings, strategies to improve nurse-physician collaboration opportunities should be explored in ED settings.