To download the conference brochure, please go to the COURSES drop down menu and open the conference link. The brochure can be downloaded in pdf format from this page. I hope this helps.
National Course Administration Committee (NCAC) Position Available Fall 2010
Pre-Requisite: Instructor-Trainer status in either TNCC or ENPC OR Course Director status in CATN-II
Send the following paperwork to Carole Rush, NCAC Chairperson, by September 1, 2010:
Email documents to chairncac@nena.ca or mail to:
Carole Rush
179 Bayview Drive SW
Calgary, AB T2V 0L4
OR
Copy of current ENPC Instructor Card with evidence of Instructor-Trainer status
Copy of CATN-II course certificate with evidence of Course Director status
All applicants will be notified in October 2010 of the results of their application
Duties will be assumed in November 2010
Thank you for your interest in NCAC!
It is not too early to book your room for the NENA Conference in May. The Conference Committee has provided Hilton Hotel registration information.
Your personalized group web page has been approved and has been published to the web.
Your web page address is: http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/STJHIHH-NURA10-20100502/index.jhtml
Group Name:
NATIONAL EMERGENCY NURSES ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING & CONFERENCE
Group Code:
NURA10
Check-in:
02-MAY-2010
Check-out:
08-MAY-2010
Hotel Name:
Hilton Saint John
Hotel Address:
1 Market Square
Saint John, Canada
E2L 4Z6
Phone Number:
506-632-8560
Purpose
To administer, deliver and evaluate aspects of the TNCC, ENPC and CATN-II courses, and to administer all other NENA-sponsored courses as requested by the NENA Board of Directors.
At this point in time, NCAC is not directly involved in the administration of the CTAS Triage Course; administration is through the CTAS National Working Group, of which NENA has representation. CTAS course data base and information is maintained by the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians (CAEP). If you have an inquiry about the CTAS course, please email ctas@nena.ca
Responsibilities
· To follow course contractual agreements between NENA and the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) in the United States
Specific ways NCAC can help you
Qualifications of members
· All NCAC members will be an Instructor Trainer (IT) in either ENPC/TNCC or a Course Director of CATN II.
All members of NCAC are volunteers and undertake their responsibilities in addition to their work duties. We hold two face-to-face meetings per year; the remainder of our communication is through email.
NCAC appreciates the time and efforts of Pat Walsh, outgoing Eastern Canada Rep and Kathy Woloshyn, outgoing Central Canada Rep. Both Pat and Kathy have served on NCAC for many years and have made significant contributions to the dissemination of courses and to the overall goals of NCAC. Pat served as NCAC Chair for several years and has contributed her knowledge and skill to the development of the new NENA website. Kathy was a contributing member of ENA’s ENPC Revision Workgroup that produced the current 3rd edition ENPC Course.
NCAC welcomes incoming Eastern Canada Rep, Traci Foss-Jeans, TNCC Instructor Trainer (resides in Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland) and Brenda Lambert, TNCC/ENPC Instructor Trainer, incoming Central Canada Rep (resides in St. Thomas, Ontario). Both Traci and Brenda will attend the fall NCAC meeting November 6-8 and assume their committee duties after this meeting.
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Course Administration Updates
Lori Quinn
NENA Treasurer
101, 1001 West Broadway—Unit 167
Vancouver, BC
V6H 4E4
Email inquiries: treasurer@nena.ca
PLEASE include the appropriate paperwork when sending your Indirect fees to the NENA Treasurer. There is an ongoing problem with cheques being sent to the NENA Treasurer without the appropriate information (Course number, number of participants, Course Director, province course was held).
NCAC wishes to recognize and thank Jerry Bell for his dedication to the role as NENA Treasurer, processing of all those course fees, and liaison with the NCAC Committee.
Revised Canadian Course Administration and Resource Manual
As per the contract between NENA and ENA, Canada does follow the ENA Administrative Guidelines for TNCC, ENPC and CATN-II courses. We are permitted to customize some administrative procedures; NCAC has developed a Canadian Course Administration Manual, which was last revised in 2006.
We have just finished revising this manual again, entitled, “Interim Canadian Course Administration and Resource Manual”, which will be in effect until the online course application process is available through www.nena.ca You can download this interim manual from the NENA website.
NENA Recruitment/Retention Powerpoint Presentation
Course Directors are asked to include the new NENA recruitment/retention slide presentation during their TNCC, ENPC and CATN-II courses. This presentation can also be shown during conferences and other educational events.
You can download the PDF version of “NENA Recruitment PowerPoint” from the NENA website at www.nena.ca
Current NENA membership required of all Instructors
A reminder that all Instructors/Course Directors teaching in Canada must have a current NENA membership. It is the individual Instructor’s responsibility to renew, but NCAC is asking that Course Directors also ensure their Instructors are current.
Course Applications to ENA/ ENA Course Operations Canadian Liaisons
Course Directors are still asked to submit their course applications to courseops@ena.org when submitting them via email, as someone is always monitoring this email address regardless of who is out of the office.
ENA has designated two staff members, Mary Caplis and Amanda Holubar, to serve as liaisons for our Canadian courses. Both Mary and Amanda have other duties at ENA, will be most familiar with Canadian issues.
Course Directors can contact Mary directly at mcaplis@ena.org and Amanda at aholubar@ena.org for specific questions about their course applications or course materials.
We will let Course Directors know when the process will be changing over to submitting course applications directly to NCAC via the NENA website.
All course manuals and materials will continue to be shipped from the ENA Office.
NCAC appreciates the efforts of Claire Thibault, Senior Advisor, MUHC Pediatric Network in Montreal, and the McGill University School of Translation, for the translation of our course materials. NENA has financially contributed to this project, which has been subsidized by McGill.
TNCC 6th Edition
ENPC 3rd Edition
Instructor courses in Canada
NCAC endorses the dissemination of courses throughout the country and encourages the development of new instructors. If you require an instructor course in your area, please send a letter of intent, outlining the rationale for more Instructors, to NCAC members at ncac@nena.ca prior to requesting your course.
Requesting Course Directors/Instructors from the US to teach in Canada
There have been a few situations in the past six months where US Instructors were asked to teach courses in Canada. As per our course contract with ENA, NENA has agreed to handle course requests and needs in Canada. If Canadian Instructors are not able to meet the course needs, then Instructors from other countries will certainly be considered/ invited to teach. The positive side of these situations is the identified need for more Instructors in certain areas of Canada. As per our Canadian Course Administrative manual, all Instructors and Course Directors who teach in Canada must be current members of NENA, even if they are teaching just one course. US Instructors would have to become familiar with specific Canadian course administrative procedures. US Course Directors would still have to pay NENA Indirect fees.
TNCC Update
TNCC Reverification Course
ENA is pleased to announce that a new TNCC Reverification Course, based on the 6th edition TNCC Provider course, has been developed. Course Directors were mailed the new CD and course information in August 2009.
Participants must have a current TNCC Provider card, and submit a copy with their course application. The Reverification Course will be offered over one day. Participants do need to prepare by reading the TNCC Provider manual, 6th edition, and completing a Pre-Test before the course. Key points from each lecture will be reviewed as well as the skill stations. As with the Provider course, participants must complete the written exam and the Trauma Nursing Process evaluation station.
As with the ENPC Reverification Course, NCAC will pilot this TNCC Reverification Course across Canada in the next six months. Pilot sites identified so far include Ottawa, Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton, and Kenora. There will be other pilot courses scheduled. Course Directors of these pilot courses will be asked to provide feedback on this new course.
NCAC will then make recommendations as to the offering of this course in Canada.
TNCC Mechanism of Injury Lecture
Though mechanism of injury is discussed in each chapter of TNCC, NCAC suggests that the information in the previous lecture is so valuable that you may still wish to incorporate it into your course as a lecture.
Some instructors are currently doing this and already have prepared material. Should you wish to receive the “Mechanism of Injury” power point for your 6th edition TNCC courses simply e-mail ncac@nena.ca with your request. Please provide both your email and mailing address; if the file is too large to be emailed, you will be sent a CD.
ENPC Update
ENPC Revision Workgroup
ENA is getting underway with the 4th edition of the ENPC course. They have formed an ENPC Revision Workshop and sent a survey to current ENPC Instructors and Course Directors (deadline for responses was August 31). NCAC has asked to be involved with the revision process by reviewing written chapters, skill stations, exams during the designated content review periods. Depending on the new course design, there may be an opportunity to submit Canadian epidemiology content on pediatric illness and injury.
The 4th edition of the ENPC course is not expected to be ready until 2011.
CATN-II Update
There are currently CATN-II Course Directors and Instructors in BC, Alberta, and Ontario. Manitoba has started the process for two Course Directors. NCAC would like to see the CATN-II course offered across the country. Many Course Directors and Instructors are willing to travel.
If you would like to host a CATN-II course in your area, please contact ncac@nena.ca. Maximum number of participants is 24.
NCAC will be looking to fill 2 vacancies on the NCAC board for fall 2009 - one in the Central region (Manitoba, Ontario & Quebec) and one in the Eastern provinces (NS, NB, PEI, Newfoundland and Labrador). Continue to watch the NENA Outlook for more information.
New Contracts have been signed with ENA for TNCC/ENPC and CATN-II
The contracts remains in effect until October 2010
Highlights since our last contract include:
Amounts for indirect fees remain unchanged:
TNCC Provider Courses: $40 US per student
TNCC Instructor Courses: $30 US per student
ENPC Provider Courses:$40 US per student
ENPC Instructor Courses: $30 US per student
CATN-II Courses: ENA Indirect fee is built into the $80 US funds manual charge/ participant
Manual Costs from October 2008-May 31, 2009
TNCC Provider manuals: $45 US each
TNCC Instructor supplements: $47.50 US each
ENPC Provider manuals: $35 US each
ENPC Instructor supplements: $40 US each
ENA has announced price increases for their Provider manuals for all orders received by fax/email on or after June 1, 2009:
TNCC Provider Manuals: $50 US each
ENPC Provider Manuals: $40 US each
When submitting credit card information, please be clear about the way in which you wish to be charged if paying for both books and indirect fees. If you wish ENA to charge your credit card for both books and indirect fees, you must enter separately one amount for books and one amount for indirect fees per the following example:
I have listed my credit card information. Please process a charge in the amount of $_____for books, and $______for indirect fees.
Indirect fees payable to NENA remain constant:
$30 Canadian per student for both TNCC, ENPC and CATN-II courses.
There are no NENA Indirect Fees for Instructor courses.
Course Directors, PLEASE include the appropriate paperwork when sending your Indirect fees to the NENA Treasurer. There is an ongoing problem with cheques being sent to the NENA Treasurer without the appropriate information (Course number, number of participants, Course Director, province course was held).
Just a reminder that when monitoring instructor candidates (IC) for TNCC/ENPC, they must be monitored 1:1 by an instructor trainer (IT) or designate. If an IT is not present at your course to monitor the IC, a senior instructor may be designated to do so. Please indicate on your course application to ENA which experienced instructor will be assigned to monitor your IC.
All current ENPC and TNCC instructors should now have or soon be receiving new instructor cards. There is now only one instructor number for both courses. If you are an ENA member, your instructor number will be your membership number. If you have not yet received your new instructor card you may check on the status of your card by contacting ENA Course Operations at 800-900-9659 extension 4120 or email at courseops@ena.org
Please ensure your provide your new number to the Course Director when teaching.
Course Numbers have changed
Course numbers are now shorter. The last 2 digits, previously used to represent the probable number of participants have been eliminated.
Previous: TP20081002-54A-24
Now: TP20081001-54A
Please continue to use the course number “originally” assigned to the course – even if it is in the old format.
If you have French speaking participants at your course, the Course Director may request an electronic copy (pdf format so no alterations can be made) of the ENPC and TNCC Provider Course exams and answer keys. As will all exams, the Course Director must ensure exam security. Send your request to the NCAC Chairperson at chairncac@nena.ca
Instructor courses
NCAC endorses the dissemination of course throughout the country and encourages the development of new instructors. If you require an instructor course in your area, please send a letter of intent, outlining the rationale for more Instructors, to NCAC members at ncac@nena.ca prior to requesting your course.
ENPC Reverification Course
ENA has developed and is now offering a one day ENPC reverification course. Components of this course include
The course was piloted at BC Children’s hospital and Alberta Children’s with overwhelming success. The key to this success was the familiarity with ENPC and having pediatric emergency experience.
NCAC recommends this course ONLY for those nurses who have taken ENPC multiple times OR work in a pediatric emergency setting.
All nurses registering for the ENPC reverification course must be current ENPC providers.
Mechanism of Injury Lecture
Some instructors are currently doing this and already have prepared material. Should you wish to receive the “Mechanism of Injury” power point for your 6th edition TNCC courses simply e-mail ncac@nena.ca with your request.
TNCC 6th edition Exam
ENA has issued a recent Course Bytes dedicated to recommendations around the 6th Edition Exam. Please visit http://www.ena.org/catn_enpc_tncc/CourseBytes/default.asp
for the most current information.
Copyright Information
Remember that all information contained in ENPC, TNCC and CATN-II is a copyright of ENA and requires permission for use. Pneumonic such as “CIAMPEDS” or “A-I” cannot be used in other courses or educational sessions without ENA’s written permission. You may request permission by sending your request to Maureen Howard at mhoward@ena.org
Meet with NCAC
NCAC will be meeting prior to the NENA conference in Winnipeg.
We are planning an Instructor meeting and educational session in conjunction with the Conference.
When plans are finalized, they will be posted on the NENA website and sent via email to Instructors.
Course Happenings June 2008
Message from the Chair
I would like to take this opportunity at this time to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to all of the dedicated Instructors across Canada. For the past 10 years I have had the great pleasure to be part of a very energetic and hard working committee that has transitioned from the National Trauma Committee (NTC) to the now current National Course Administration Committee (NCAC). We have seen the growth of CATN II across the country, the addition and update of ENPC and most recently the 6th edition of TNCC which has just been rolled out across the country.
The number of instructors is growing in all 3 of these courses and the number of students participating continues to expand with demand outweighing the ability to deliver at present. The challenge ahead for NCAC is to deliver these courses across the country so that every nurse wishing to obtain this valuable knowledge can easily get access to a course within their region. One of the main goals that NCAC will be working on for the 2008/2009 term will be the offering of a home page within the www.nena.ca site. This home page will house a listing of courses being offered in Canada, as well as the ability to register a course and a chat corner for instructors. I am certain the upcoming team will take this challenge on with their usual dedication, hard work and never ending enthusiasm!
Welcome to the new chair of NCAC, Carole Rush. Carole is moving from her role as Western Provincial representative to chair. Also a big thanks you to NCAC committee members who have completed terms, Louise LeBlanc (Central) and Debbie Cotton (East). Deb and Louise are leaving the committee after years of dedicated hard work and hours of personal time spent in teaching, traveling and attending meetings. We shall miss their input and presence.
Welcome to the new NCAC committee members:
Western
Colleen Brayman, British Columbia
Margaret Dymond, Alberta
Central
Debra Bastone, Ontario
Eastern
Ann Hogan, New Brunswick
Current NCAC representatives are:
Pat Walsh – East (Newfoundland/Labrador/ PEI)
Kathy Woloshyn Central (Manitoba/Saskatchewan)
* Landon James will assist the committee over the next year with the new web home page. Congratulations to Landon on his successful nomination as NENA’s President –Elect!
Just a reminder to renew your NENA/provincial memberships. The membership year extends form July 1 to June 30th. Register BOTH on-line and send your payment to your provincial treasurer. Remember that you must be a current NENA member to be able to teach TNCC/ENPC/CATN II. * Watch for the ability to pay via credit card
TNCC updates have taken place in all provinces and 80% of TNCC instructors have been updated. Remember you will NOT be able to teach TNCC if you have not had an update by October 1, 2008. Beyond this date there will no longer be delivery of the old course.
6th edition TNCC courses have begun to be delivered in several provinces. Contact your NCAC representative for ideas on course schedules and organization. All Instructors should start to receive their new cards in the month of July.
Concerns/issues have been shared with ENA in regards to the increased failure rate with the new exam for the 6th edition course. ENA is currently reviewing these concerns and will be providing information over the next few months. If you have concerns please speak to your Provincial Rep.
An ENPC reverification course has been developed by ENA. Course pilots are being arranged in a couple of provinces for further assessment. All providers doing the reverification course MUST still be active ENPC providers.
New course administration guidelines were revised in November 2007. Please access www.ena.org to view/download this document.
NENA Recruitment and Information Power Point Presentation for Course Directors
In order to communicate to all our students attending the NENA sponsored courses the board has asked that each course director speak to this short informative presentation which has been developed to show at the start of all courses. The power point presentation will be available on the www.nena.ca website for you to download.
If there have been issues with receiving course material in a timely fashion from ENA, please share these with your provincial representative
We would like to congratulate Carole Rush on her induction to the Fellowship Academy of Emergency Nursing. Carole is the first International nurse to receive this honor that is given to emergency nurses who have made and continue to make significant contributions to emergency nursing practice. Congratulations Carole!
Contact Us: NCAC Committee members
General email to reach all NCAC members: ncac@nena.ca
Chairperson
Carole Rush, Calgary, AB
chairncac@nena.ca
carole.rush@albertahealthservices.ca
Western Canada Reps
Margaret Dymond. Edmonton, AB
margaret.dymond@albertahealthservices.ca
Colleen Brayman, Kelowna, BC
Colleen.Brayman@interiorhealth.ca
Central Canada Reps
Debra Bastone, Kenora, ON
dbastone@lwdh.on.ca
Brenda Lambert, St. Thomas, ON
BLambert@stegh.on.ca
Eastern Canada Reps
Ann Hogan, Quispamis, NB
hogaan@reg2.health.nb.ca
Traci Foss-Jeans, Grand Falls, NL
Traci.fossjeans@centralhealth.nl.ca
This PowerPoint is a useful tool for recruiting members to NENA.
Every minute of every day Emergency Nurses are continually “Riding the Wave of Change.” Overcrowding, diversion, critically ill and injured patients, anxious families, understaffing, new equipment and new technology are only a few of the stressors that make us continually adjust our practice. Join other nurses from across the country to brainstorm problems, and then laugh about these problems, talk about solutions and commiserate when change seems impossible. Hear our speakers’ present ideas that will help us to continue to provide optimal care to our patients and their families and to help us in “Riding the Wave of Change.” Conference Committee Registration
Every minute of every day Emergency Nurses are continually “Riding the Wave of Change.” Overcrowding, diversion, critically ill and injured patients, anxious families, understaffing, new equipment and new technology are only a few of the stressors that make us continually adjust our practice. Join other nurses from across the country to brainstorm problems, and then laugh about these problems, talk about solutions and commiserate when change seems impossible. Hear our speakers’ present ideas that will help us to continue to provide optimal care to our patients and their families and to help us in “Riding the Wave of Change.”
Conference Committee
Registration must be received by the committee one day before the Conference or registrant will be held responsible for fees. All breakfast, lunch and nutrition breaks are included in registration fee.
Registration must be received by the committee one day before the
Conference or registrant will be held responsible for fees.
All breakfast, lunch and nutrition breaks are included in registration fee.
Registration must be received by the committee one day before the Conference or registrant will be held responsible for fees. Cancellation deadline for refund all but 15% is April 1/2010.
Wine & Cheese Social Wednesday, May 5th with the NENA Executive & Board of Directors & NCAC Committee from 8pm – 10pm
Pre-Conference Wednesday, May 5th
Trade Show – Industry Vendors Highlighting the Latest Equipment
Vendor Market – Do your shopping without leaving the hotel
Silent Auction
All TNCC, ENPC, CATN II Instructors are invited to a Networking Breakfast with the National Course Administration Committee (NCAC). Come and learn what is new with these courses, and share ideas. Free session. Friday, May 7th 7:15-8:45 am.
Join us at Lilly Lake for a Maritime Kitchen Party. Lobster will be cooked on site and you will be entertained by a local comedian who will share what it means to be a Maritimer. Transportation will be provided and there will be an alternate dinner selection for those that do not want to try the lobster.
Description: Hilton Hotel & Conference Center, 1 Market Square, Saint John, NB
When registering at the Hilton please mention NENA for the conferencing pricing of $139.00/$149.00/night. Parking is $16.00/day. Transportation from Saint John airport to downtown is $25.00.
The Hilton Hotel Conference Center personalized group web page has been approved and has been published to the web.
Hilton Harbourfront Hotel Saint John is a full service, 4 star, downtown harbourfront Saint John hotel with 197 rooms and is connected to New Brunswick's largest Trade and Convention Centre. We have Saint John's premier dining room, cocktail lounge bar, and are connected via indoor pedway to Market Square retail and business comples, Harbour Station, Aquatic Centre, New Brunswick Museum, and Brunswick Square Financial and Shopping Centre. Situated directly on the harbour, Hilton Saint John Hotel is the only 4-star hotel located on the waterfront at the foot of historic King Street in Canada's oldest incorporated city, Saint John, New Brunswick, only moments from the world-famouse Reversing Falls.
Registration Type
NENA Members
Non Members
Early Registration Before April 1st
$350.00
$400.00
After April 1st
$450.00
One Day Conference – Thursday or Friday
$140.00 (Must specify Which Day)
One Day Conference - Saturday
$75.00
Social – Lilly Lake (Lobster)
$50.00
Pre-Conference ECG
Pre-Conference CTAS
This is your friendly reminder that the time has come for budding writers and ambitious educators who have something to share with Canadian emergency nurses to put thoughts to paper. We are looking for articles for the spring edition of Outlook. the deadline for submission is February 21, but is you need a couple of extra days, we can adjust. This journal is for the use and benefit of the membership. Please don't be shy about sharing from your experience. Submissions should be sent in a Word document to communicationofficer@nena.ca
We are pleased to welcome some new advertisers under the courses and conferences section of the website. Please have a look at their offerings.
The New Brunswick conference committee has been hard at work and the details of this year's NENA conference make it sound like a not-to-be-missed event. In addition to exciting sessions inside the conference centre, there is some gorgeous scenery in the area for off hours. The Annual General Meeting will be conducted during the conference and we have two positions which will require election: President-Elect and Communication Officer.
Have a great day-
Stephanie Carlson
January 3rd 2010 the NENA.ca website suffered a system failure.We have been working hard to fully to restore the website and the documentation for our members. It will take some addition time to restore all the services such as membership functions and the forums.
We are targeting to have the membership functionality fully restore on February 6th 2010.
Your previous account will not be active until after February 6th, we will notify current members of their new account details once it is active.
Thanks for you patience.
ISSUE
The Emergency Nurse is at high risk for contracting infection from the transmission of emerging new pathogens, including blood-borne (airborne and droplet). This is due to contact with multiple patients and the generally undiagnosed health problems that present to the emergency department.
NENA POSITION
NENA endorses CNA Policy Statement, (1993), "Blood-borne Pathogens", and believes Emergency Nurses have the responsibility to comply with policies and procedures requiring the use of universal precautions and body fluid precautions.
NENA believes that Emergency Nurses have a professional obligation to observe standard precautions and other appropriate infection control procedures when providing direct patient care. Adhering to universal precautions helps to protect patients, nurses and others from accidental exposure and infection.
NENA endorses continuous quality improvement and encourages agencies to accept the 1995 draft recommendations from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia, and to develop policies using empiric precautions. These precautions use a blending of universal precautions and body substance isolation, preventing the transmission of pathogens from undiagnosed patients.
NENA believes empiric precautions prevent transmission of pathogens from blood-borne, contact, airborne and droplet sources. It also protects the patient as well as the nurse from transmission of those pathogens.
NENA believes vaccination with Hepatitis B is the most effective means to avoid transmission of that virus and must be offered to all Emergency Nurses.
NENA believes health care facilities must provide education and protective equipment and establish guidelines and protocols for the emergency department.
RATIONALE
Emergency Nurses work in an area in which little or no health information about the patient is available. The use of universal precautions will assist in protecting the nurse from all known sources of potential infections.
References
Canadian Nurses Association, CNA's Policy Statement, Blood borne Pathogens, Nov 1993.
Center of Disease Control (CDC), Take empiric precautions with potential pathogens, Hospital Infection Control, Jan.1995. (Draft)
Danis, D. RN, MS, CEN; Halm, K. Threat of emerging infectious diseases; The MMWR File, Journal of Emergency Nursing, Vol. 20 (6), pp. 570-2
Dixon, C. BA; Bertrand, C. BsN; McLean, A. Peter H. MD; Tousignant, P. MD; Groome, P. BFA, Another View to Blood and Body Substance Precaution: 1988-91. Canadian Journal of Infectious Control, Feb 1992.
Evans, Gary. Change is the constant, Supplement to Hospital Infection Control, 1994
Many patients entering emergency departments are unable to communicate verbally whether they have allergies or health problems, which could affect their care.
NENA supports the use of bracelet and/or necklace identification that identifies allergies, health problems, and other medical information pertinent to the treatment and care of all MedicAlert subscribers. NENA promotes MedicAlert educational programs, and the use of MedicAlert 24-hour toll free hot line for emergency medical information. NENA promotes the distribution of educational material for the non-profit Canadian MedicAlert Foundation in all emergency nursing settings.
Patient safety and quality care is the goal of emergency nursing. The use of MedicAlert helps to ensure potential complications are minimized.
Reference
Canadian MedicAlert Foundation. (2008).
In most cases, the family is the patient's primary support system. Family members are frequently not given the opportunity to remain with the patient during invasive procedures, including resuscitation efforts. Families/primary social units and patients may be separated for reasons such as the perception of being overwhelmed and/or intimidated with the situation and concern on the part of the individuals performing the procedure in the presence of non-medically oriented individuals. Families/ primary social units may be separated from patients because of the perception that observing such events may be distressing and/or may impede medical activities.
POSITION
NENA supports the option of family or primary social unit presence during invasive procedures and/or resuscitation efforts.
NENA acknowledges that a support system, (i.e.) Social Worker and/or Pastoral Care, must be in place for the family member(s) during invasive procedures and/or resuscitation efforts.
Every emergency patient is a member of a family or valued social unit with the family/primary social unit being defined as a person(s) who has an established mutual relationship with the patient.
The family/primary social unit is the major source of support for the individual during times of stress and crisis.
Studies have indicated that the most important needs identified by family/primary social unit members of critically ill patients are:
Family/primary social unit presence during resuscitation efforts allows the patient and the family to support each other and facilitate the grieving process by bringing a sense of reality to the treatment efforts and the patient's clinical status.
Emergency Nurses Association. (2005). Position Statement: Family presence at the bedside during invasive procedures and/or resuscitation.
Eppich, W. J., Arnold, L.D. (2003) Family member presence in the pediatric emergency department. Current Opinion in Pediatrics. 15(3):294-298.
Madden, E., Condon, C. (2007). Emergency nurses' current practices and understanding of family presence during CPR. Journal of Emergency Nursing. 33(5):433-440.
Mangurten, J.A. et al. (2005 Family Presence: Making room. American Journal of Nursing, 105(5):40-48.
Marrone, L., Fogg, C. (2003) Should the family be present during resuscitation. Nursing, 33(10):32cc1-32cc2.
Thomas, T. (2007) Family presence: To stay or not to stay. Nursing Critical Care. 2(2):19-24.