What are the most common conditions treated in the ER?
What are the most common conditions treated in the ER? Emergency nurses encounter many conditions with varying degrees of severity—ailments range anywhere from a sore throat to a heart attack.
What should I do when I go to the ER?
If you can, bring someone with you when you go to the ER. When you arrive, the very first thing you'll need to do is tell staffers why you're there, and it might be easier to bring someone who can help get that conversation started. You will likely have a long wait, so having someone to sit with you is helpful.
What is it like to work in the ER?
She shares that ER nurses are often evaluating and treating patients almost simultaneously, and they work with a team of specialists, such as radiologists and orthopedic experts, to provide the highest-quality care. Working in an emergency room isn’t all excitement all the time.
Should I go to the ER for chronic pain?
Emergency health care providers may be suspicious of patients who complain of chronic pain; it's one of the red flags that a patient is a narcotics seeker who might be lying to get pain pills. The ER: NOT the place to go for a second opinion.
What are the stages of ER?
Five Steps of Emergency CareStep 1 – Rapid Medical Evaluation. ... Step 2 – Registration. ... Step 3 – Treatment. ... Step 4 – Re-evaluation. ... Step 5 – Discharge.
What happens when you are admitted to the ER?
The doctor will examine you as soon as possible and order tests as needed. Your tests, such as X-rays, blood analysis or CT scans, will be performed and then evaluated by a specialist. Your ER doctor will review your test results with you and explain next steps in your care.
What are the 3 categories of triage?
TriageImmediate category. These casualties require immediate life-saving treatment.Urgent category. These casualties require significant intervention as soon as possible.Delayed category. These patients will require medical intervention, but not with any urgency.Expectant category.
How long does it take to get treated in the ER?
Answer. Emergency room patients are supposed to be immediately assessed and treated according to the urgency of their condition. The average ER patient in the U.S. waits around 28 minutes before they are seen by a doctor, but for most women, getting properly diagnosed and treated is more complicated than it should be.
What does admitted to the ER mean?
People are admitted to a hospital when they have a serious or life-threatening problem (such as a heart attack). They also may be admitted for less serious disorders that cannot be adequately treated in another place (such as at home or in an outpatient surgery center).
When admitting a patient what are the basic procedures?
Hospital Admission ProcedurePurpose of admission procedure.Gather patient information (name, age, sex, address, mobile no etc)Prepare medical record.Prepare patient identification bracelet.Consent form signed.Initial orders obtained.
What are the 5 levels of triage?
In general, triage categories can be expressed as a Description (immediate; Urgent; Delayed; Expectant), Priority (1 to 4), or Color (Red, Yellow, Green, Blue), respectively, where Immediate category equals Priority 1 and Red color [1,2]. ...
What is a priority 4 patient?
Priority 4 (Blue) Those victims with critical and potentially fatal injuries or illness are coded priority 4 or "Blue" indicating no treatment or transportation.
What are the 4 categories of triage?
About emergency department patients treatedTriage category 1 (need for resuscitation): requires treatment immediately.Triage category 2 (emergency): requires treatment within 10 minutes.Triage category 3 (urgent): requires treatment within 30 minutes.Triage category 4 (semi-urgent): requires treatment within 1 hour.More items...
How long can you stay in the ER without being admitted?
When a patient needs urgent medical attention, it may not be evident right away if there is a need for hospital admission. It could be a condition suitable for treatment at an ER, without the need for a hospital stay. In these circumstances, up to 23 hours of observation proves to be the best option.
What is the longest ER wait time?
These 10 states have the longest median wait times for admitted patients:New York: 153 minutes.Maryland: 152 minutes.Connecticut: 152 minutes.New Jersey: 150 minutes. California: 150 minutes.Rhode Island: 147 minutes.Massachusetts: 131 minutes.Hawaii: 131 minutes.More items...•
Why does it take so long to be seen in the emergency room?
Diagnosis. Another contributing factor to long ER wait times is the time it takes to diagnose each patient. Emergency physicians must first rule out life-threatening conditions and then possibly administer blood tests, X-rays, CT scans and other lab work, depending on the illness or injury.
What is the EMTALA obligation?
EMTALA also imposes an obligation to stabilize a patient within the operational and clinical capabilities of the facility, or transfer a patient to another appropriate facility. A hospital may not transfer a patient that presents with an emergency medical condition until the patient is stabilized.
Does informed consent to treatment always address every situation?
Finally, the laws on informed consent to treatment do not always address every situation every time. There are situations which will arise from time to time where the answer does not readily appear from reading the law. In such situations, the prudent course of action, in my humble opinion, is to render the appropriate examination and treatment (unless it is refused), whilst simultaneously contacting your respective risk management director, or other senior member of the administration who can direct the appropriate resources to handle the issue.
Can consent to treat be disaffirmated in Texas?
Consent to treat given by a minor in conformance within these guidelines and priorities, as set forth by Texas law, is not subject to disaffirmance, i.e., revocation, because of minority.It should be pointed out, however, that hospital personnel's efforts in following the steps provided in the Texas Health and Safety Code and the Texas Family Code, as it pertains to consent by minors, should be clearly documented within its records. For liability reasons, this is especially important in instances of emergency patients that arrive and then refuse treatment, as well as those patients who require a transfer to another facility for appropriate treatment.
Can a hospital transfer a patient to another facility?
EMTALA also imposes an obligation to stabilize a patient within the operational and clinical capabilities of the facility, or transfer a patient to another appropriate facility. A hospital may not transfer a patient that presents with an emergency medical condition until the patient is stabilized. Until the patient has been stabilized, no transfer should occur unless the following occurs:
What to do when you have a problem?
When you have a problem, do not wait too long to get medical care. If your problem is not life threatening or risking disability, but you are concerned and you cannot see your provider soon enough, go to an urgent care clinic.
What are the problems urgent care clinics deal with?
The kinds of problems an urgent care clinic can deal with include: Common illnesses, such as colds, the flu, earaches, sore throats, migraines, low-grade fevers, and limited rashes. Minor injuries, such as sprains, back pain, minor cuts and burns, minor broken bones, or minor eye injuries.
What to do if you are not sure what to do?
If you are not Sure, Talk to Someone. If you are not sure what to do, and you don't have one of the serious conditions listed above, call your provider. If the office is not open, your phone call may be forwarded to someone. Describe your symptoms to the provider who answers your call, and find out what you should do.
What is an ER exam room?
An ER exam room has a bed for you and a chair where your mom or dad can sit and keep you company. Some of these rooms may have something that looks like a small TV screen. That's a monitor used to keep an eye on a person's heartbeat and breathing.
What does "admitted" mean in ER?
ER doctors and nurses may use words that are new to you. Here's what some of them mean: admitted: to stay in the hospital overnight. discharged: to be sent home from the hospital. triage: a process that helps doctors see the sickest patients first.
What to do if you have to wait a while to see a doctor?
If you have to wait a while, you'll probably do it in the waiting area. The waiting room may have toys, books, magazines, computers, and a TV to keep you busy until an exam room is ready or until you get an X-ray. The triage nurse might tell you not to eat or drink until you see the doctor.
What happened to Ben in the Emergency Room?
But one night, just before bedtime, he tried to "fly" from one end of his bed to the other. Ben missed his mark and ended up banging his elbow hard on the wood floor.
What tests do you need for a broken arm?
The X-ray showed that he had a broken arm and needed a cast. Other kids might need different tests, such as blood tests or urine (pee) tests. Sometimes kids need fluids or medicine through an intravenous catheter, also called an IV.
What does it mean to follow up with your doctor?
If, as in most cases, you are going home, the ER doctor might tell you to "follow up" with your regular doctor. This means to visit your regular doctor soon so he or she can see that you're doing better and answer any questions that you or your parents may have.
What happens when a doctor arrives?
When the doctor arrives, he or she will talk to you and your parents about your medical problem and examine you. At this point, the doctor will decide what should happen next. In Ben's case, he needed an X-ray. The X-ray showed that he had a broken arm and needed a cast.
What is EMTALA in the emergency room?
Your Rights in the Emergency Room. Nov. 29, 2018 -- The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, or EMTALA, guarantees a certain level of medical care to anyone who comes to an emergency department that accepts payments from Medicare or Medicaid. Some labor and delivery units and psychiatric hospitals are also governed by EMTALA.
What is the second most common way hospitals have violated EMTALA over the last 10 years?
Failure to do an appropriate transfer was the second most common way hospitals have violated EMTALA over the last 10 years.
What is the most common EMTALA violation?
Over the last 10 years, the most frequent EMTALA violation by hospitals was the failure to do an adequate medical screening exam.
What is the third most common EMTALA violation over the last 10 years?
Failure to keep this log was the third most common EMTALA violation over the last 10 years.
What is EMTALA in medical?
Nov. 29, 2018 -- The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, or EMTALA, guarantees a certain level of medical care to anyone who comes to an emergency department that accepts payments from Medicare or Medicaid. Some labor and delivery units and psychiatric hospitals are also governed by EMTALA.
Can a hospital employee be punished for a violation?
8. Not punish any hospital employee who reports a violation.
What is the role of an ER nurse?
Emergency nursing careers may also come with the important role of educating the public. Some ER nurses participate in public programs that promote wellness and prevent injuries, such as alcohol awareness, child passenger safety, gun safety, bicycle and helmet safety and domestic violence prevention.
What kind of injuries do ER nurses see?
Hospitals in large metropolitan areas are more likely to see extreme cases like gunshot or stab wounds, but they also receive patients with less-acute problems who are simply seeking primary care, according to Carroll.
What do emergency nurses do?
ER nurses treat patients who are suffering from trauma, injury or severe medical conditions and require urgent treatment. Since these specialists work in crisis situations, they must be able to quickly identify the best way to stabilize patients and minimize pain.
How do you become an emergency nurse?
The first step is simple: you must become a registered nurse (RN) by obtaining either an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Both roads lead to an RN career, but you’ll have to decide whether an ADN or a BSN is best for your own career aspirations. Once you have your Nursing degree in hand, you’ll have to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) before working as a registered nurse.
What do you need to know about emergency nursing?
Emergency Nursing: Everything You Need to Know About Being an ER Nurse. If you have hopes of pursuing a career in nursing, you’ve probably looked into the different specialties available to nurses. Each specialty demands its own skills and characteristics, which is especially true for those working in emergency nursing.
What are the qualities of a successful emergency nurse?
There’s not one set of necessary qualities that’s required if you want to be an ER nurse, but having certain characteristics might make you more suited for the job.
What is the goal of an emergency room intervention?
Potential Emergency Room Interventions. The goal of initial intervention is medical stabilization . Interventions may include: Insertion of an endotracheal tube to protect the airway and prevent aspiration. Placement of intravenous lines, which also allow for collecting blood samples to assess for blood count, blood sugar, and alcohol levels.
How long after a nasogastric tube injury can you feed?
Feeding via nasogastric tube may be started around 72 hours after injury in comatose patients.
Why is it important to assess the severity of a brain injury?
To assess involvement of alcohol or illicit substances. This is critical because symptoms of intoxication may mask an underlying brain injury .
Why do people go to the ER?
Pain is one of the most common reasons why any of us visit the ER. As many as 20 percent of people report living with chronic pain, and some estimates suggest that our chronic pain complaints account for a just shy of half of all visits to the emergency department overall [sources: Knox et al., Grover ].
What percentage of emergency department visits are people who don't have a primary care doctor to call?
While some think the ER is a convenient solution for people without other care options, only about 3 percent of those emergency department visits are people who don't have a primary care doctor to call or any other place to go when they're sick.
What to do if you have a refill in the middle of the night?
Call your doctor’s office for emergency refills — even if it’s the middle of the night.
How to stop bleeding from a swollen ear?
Treatment may include a thorough cleaning of the area and local anesthetic to numb the area and block the pain, in addition to stitches or medical-grade glue to help stop bleeding and close the wound. In some cases, you may need a tetanus shot or antibiotics to avoid infection. Advertisement.
How long does it take for a cut to stop bleeding?
Any cut that won't stop bleeding after about 10 minutes, or any puncture wound more than a quarter of an inch deep, is no longer considered minor and should be treated by a health care professional — although probably still not in the ER.
Is the ER the place to go for a second opinion?
The ER: NOT the place to go for a second opinion.
Is it safe to go to the ER for dental pain?
There's a second problem with visiting the ER for dental complaints. In addition to the fact that emergency physicians aren't schooled in dentistry, patients complaining of a toothache or other dental pain are typically considered risky. Emergency department teams red-flag such complaints as potential drug-seeking behavior, so not only is it unlikely your tooth will be fixed or saved, you might be suspected (or outed) as an opiate addict [source: Saint Louis ].
Why do E mergency physicians need to be well versed in the management of the intoxicated patient?
E mergency physicians (EPs) must be well versed in the management of the intoxicated patient because EDs have become the "drunk tank" and the health care safety net for American society. In order to properly manage the alcohol-impaired patient, the EP must understand several important clinical and medicolegal principles.
How long does it take for a physician to re-evaluate a patient?
There is no widely accepted time interval for physician re-evaluation. This should be determined on a case-by-case basis. In general, based on the biomechanics of alcohol degradation, the patient’s clinical condition should begin to improve in a three- to six-hour time frame.
What does an intoxicated patient need to know?
The intoxicated patient warrants a thorough history and physical. Although it seems obvious, these patients should be undressed, and the EP should view all body surface areas. Intoxicated patients may present with trauma, hypoglycemia, hypothermia, hepatic encephalopathy, sepsis, electrolyte abnormalities, ethanol withdrawal, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, or co-ingestions. Despite intoxicated patients’ objections and a common physician bias against these patients, they warrant rapid, meticulous evaluation and aggressive treatment when indicated.
What is the law in Illinois for restraining intoxicated patients?
In Illinois, the Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse Dependency Act provides that a person who appears unconscious or in immediate need of medical services while in a public place and shows symptoms of impairment brought on by alcoholism or other drug abuse may be taken into protective custody and brought to emergency medical service. 21
What blood alcohol level is needed for a comatose patient?
Physicians must be aware that coma due to ethanol alone is rare at blood levels less than 300 mg/dL. 11
Why should patients be positioned in the left lateral decubitus position?
When possible, other patients should be positioned in the left lateral decubitus position to prevent aspiration after clearance of the C-spine, if indicated. Understandably, positioning is difficult and often impossible in these patients. A full set of vital signs, including a core temperature, is essential.
Is there a clear cut guideline for the EP?
A review of the literature indicates that there are no clear-cut guidelines for the EP’s management of the intoxicated patient. These patients present to the ED with an altered mental status, often express suicidal ideation, and, at times, are belligerent and physically violent.
