Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
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Multicenter Study
Women's Experiences of Miscarriage in the Emergency Department.
Miscarriage is a common event, usually managed in the emergency department. Although studies have examined the impact of miscarriage on women's mental health and the effects of their dissatisfaction with health care received, little is known about the characteristics of the miscarriage experience in the emergency department. The objective of this study was to identify characteristics of care management that may have contributed to the difficulties experienced by women presenting with miscarriage in the emergency department. ⋯ Lack of information throughout the care management of miscarriage exacerbated the already-difficult nature of this event for the participants. Training emergency nurses to give adequate and complete information enables the delivery of compassionate care, potentially making a difficult situation less traumatic.
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Multicenter Study
Human Trafficking Victim Identification, Assessment, And Intervention Strategies In South Texas Emergency Departments.
Human-trafficking victims seek assistance for health issues in emergency departments. This point of contact provides an opportunity for screening and identification of the victim's situation, enabling intervention. ⋯ The failure to recognize human-trafficking victims prevents assessment of the victim's status and further delays referral to appropriate resources. Barriers to screening for human trafficking included lack of awareness of the human-trafficking experience, need for clinical education related to evidence-based protocols, and need for validated screening instruments and standardization of processes that promote action and provide victim assistance.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Lack of Significant Coronary History and ECG Misinterpretation are the Strongest Predictors of Undertriage in Prehospital Chest Pain.
Appropriate prehospital (PH) triage of patients with chest pain can significantly improve outcomes in acute myocardial infarction (MI). We sought to explore how PH providers triage chest pain as high versus low risk and to evaluate the accuracy and predictors of their triage decision. ⋯ PH providers have moderate sensitivity in triaging high-risk patients; 1 in 3 MI events are undertriaged. Emergency nurses need to pay special attention to patients with benign past histories during transition of care and should always reinterpret ECGs for subtle ischemic changes.
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Multicenter Study
Educating Emergency Department Staff on the Identification and Treatment of Human Trafficking Victims.
Hospitalization is one of the few circumstances in which the lives of trafficking victims intersect with the general population. Based on survivor testimonies, the majority of human trafficking victims may receive medical treatment in a hospital's emergency department while in captivity. With evidenced-based training, ED personnel have a better opportunity to screen persons who are being trafficked and intervene on their behalf. ⋯ Participants reported that they are more confident in identifying a possible trafficking victim and are more likely to screen patients for human trafficking after participation in the online training module. The proposed general guideline for care provided ED personnel with a useful tool in perpetuity. The results of this project, coupled with the growth of worldwide human trafficking, highlights the need for focused human trafficking education within the hospital setting.
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Multicenter Study
Emergency Nurse Competence in Electrocardiographic Interpretation in Spain: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Electrocardiographic interpretation skills are key to provide a fast attention to patients with thoracic pain. The aim of the study was to determine the current level of competence in electrocardiographic interpretation of nurses in emergency departments. ⋯ The electrocardiographic knowledge of emergency nurses is high. Level of knowledge was not influenced by experience or hospital but was influenced by training when provided in the previous 5 years. Therefore, refreshing courses should be taken at least every 5 years. Contribution to Emergency Nursing Practice.