Emergency department waiting room nurses in practice: An observational study

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Nursing Practice
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Emergency department care is extending into waiting rooms.
• Waiting room nurses aim to initiate care, reassess patients, and improve communication.
• Limited research exists on the specific activities and behaviors of waiting room nurses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the activities and behaviors of nurses working in emergency department waiting rooms.

Main Methods:

• An exploratory sequential mixed-methods study was conducted.
• Nonparticipant observation of eight waiting room nurses over 65 hours and 50 minutes in two emergency departments.
• Data collected using an observation tool and reflective journal, analyzed with descriptive and thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• Nurses anticipated and prioritized holistic, patient-centered care.
• Workload was varied and unpredictable, including facilitating patient flow.
• Nurses enhanced patient safety by reassessing patients and detecting clinical deterioration.

Conclusions:

• Therapeutic engagement reassured patients and families, facilitating holistic care.
• Nurses contributed to patient safety through early intervention and close monitoring.
• Further research is recommended to explore the role's efficacy, impact on patient safety, and patient/family perceptions.