Accident and emergency nursing
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In this second paper on the work of Accident and Emergency (A & E) nurses, a general overview of nursing assessment in the A & E department at the point of initial nurse patient contact is put forward. This is rooted in nurses' accounts of the ways in which nursing work is talked about and accomplished within the A & E setting. Again it should be noted that this paper describes the ordinary rather than the extraordinary and should hold no surprises for those familiar with such work.
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Paracetamol is a common cause of fatal self-poisoning in the UK every year. Despite this, it continues to be sold freely without medical supervision and can be found in quantity in most household medicine cabinets.
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Alcohol is a contributing factor in many car crashes around the world (Emergency Nurses Association 1995). Emergency nurses care for the victims of these crashes and are in an ideal position to share their experience with the community. A mock drunk driving crash illustrates the realities and consequences of impaired driving (Huber et al 1995). ⋯ Students from the participating agency play the roles of the victims. Police, fire, pre-hospital emergency care personnel and highway traffic patrol are dispatched to the crash scene, where they perform their duties as they would in a real situation. A follow-up session at the hospital or in a classroom provides an opportunity to address the consequences of drunk driving and discuss strategies for prevention.