Citation

Robinson S. Emerg. Nurse 2023; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, RCN Publishing)

DOI

10.7748/en.2023.e2189

PMID

38111266

Abstract

Increasing demand, overcrowding and insufficient resources have led to situations where patient care is delivered in emergency department (ED) waiting rooms. For nurses undertaking triage in the ED waiting room, overcrowding is challenging, particularly in terms of assessing patients in a timely fashion, monitoring patients for clinical deterioration and ordering investigations. Additionally, long waiting times and a lack of information can lead to communication breakdowns with patients and, at times, patient confrontations with ED staff. This article explores the effects of the busy environment in ED waiting rooms on patients and staff such as triage nurses and waiting room nurses.

Language: en

Keywords

trauma; communication; accident and emergency; emergency care; nurse-patient relations; professional; telephone triage; triage; urgent care