Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
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Charge nurses are shift leaders whose role includes managing nursing resources and facilitating appropriate patient care; in emergency departments, the charge nurse role requires both clinical and leadership skills to facilitate the flow of patients, while ensuring patient and staff safety. Literature on orientation and specific training is notably sparse. This study aimed to evaluate the content and process of core competency training and identify evaluation and implementation strategies necessary to improve charge nurse performance in United States emergency departments. ⋯ These findings have the potential to support a standardized approach to emergency charge nurse training and evaluation focusing on communication skills, clinical decision making, and situational awareness to facilitate safe and effective nurse-patient assignment and emergency department throughput.
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Radial artery puncture has been performed by palpation as a standard method in many emergency departments and intensive care units. Nurses play an important role in the care of patients in various settings. Ultrasonography can be performed and interpreted not only by physicians but also by nurses. This study aimed to evaluate whether emergency nurses would be more successful in radial artery puncture procedure by using ultrasonography instead of palpation. ⋯ Our study shows that emergency nurses can use bedside ultrasonography for radial artery puncture successfully.
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Suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth 12 to 18 years of age. Suicidal ideation can be predictive of suicide attempt, so screening for suicidal ideation by emergency nurses can help identify those at risk and facilitate timely intervention. This study evaluates the use of a universal suicide screening using the Patient Safety Screener 3 and the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale to identify youth ages 12 to 18 years experiencing suicide risk and assess factors predictive of suicide risk level. ⋯ Universal screening for suicide risk in pediatric emergency departments by nurses is critical for all patients older than 12 years, given that we identified patients at risk of suicide who presented for non-mental health reasons. These patients may not have been identified or referred to treatment if they were not screened for suicidality increasing risk of future suicide attempt.
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Freestanding emergency departments (FSEDs) are emergency facilities not connected to inpatient services. The percentage of FSEDs of all EDs grew from 1% in 2001 to 12% in 2017, making FSEDs a substantial subset of US emergency care. The purpose of this study was to describe the individual attributes and environmental conditions of registered nurses working in FSEDs in the US. ⋯ The practice environment of emergency nurses in FSEDs was reported as having positive elements; however, a substantial subpopulation reported serious concerns. FSEDs adhere to some of the standards put forward by the American College of Emergency Physicians, with notable exceptions in the areas of staffing RNs, staffing ancillary staff, and availability of some resources.
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Anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances among accident and emergency nurses not only harm their well-being but also affect patient care and organizational outcomes. This study examines anxiety, depression, and sleep prevalence and associations among accident and emergency nurses. ⋯ Accident and emergency nurses commonly experience anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances. Implementing interventions to promote their mental well-being or manage these issues is crucial. Organizational support is vital for ensuring their mental health, and individual-level interventions may also prove beneficial.