Emergency departments (EDs) are fast paced and overcrowded environments that care for patients with a variety of health problems across the life span.
Vulnerable populations who present to the ED include older adults, individuals who are uninsured or underinsured, mentally ill, and abused.
The most common reasons that patients seek ED care include chest pain, abdominal pain, headache, and fever.
The interdisciplinary ED team includes prehospital providers, physicians, nurses, specialty teams, and support staff.
Explain best practices to maintain safety in the ED. Students should understand competencies for the ED nurse, as well as the most commonly used triage systems.
Discuss the most common mechanisms of injury and the steps of the primary survey and trauma resuscitation interventions to help students learn the proper actions in emergency situations.