Exploration and model development for emergency department waiting room nurse role: Synthesis of a three-phase sequential mixed methods study

Interventions to improve nurse-family communication in the emergency department: A scoping review

AIM

To determine and describe what interventions exist to improve nurse-family communication during the waiting period of an emergency department visit.

BACKGROUND

Communication between nurses and families is an area needing improvement. Good communication can improve patient outcomes, satisfaction with care and decrease patient and family anxiety.

DESIGN

Scoping Review.

METHODS

A scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institution methodology: (1) identify the research question, (2) define the inclusion criteria, (3) use a search strategy to identify relevant studies using a three-step approach, (4) select studies using a team approach, (5) data extraction, (6) data analysis, and (7) presentation of results.

DATA SOURCES

Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsychInfo and grey literature were searched on 3 August 2022.

RESULTS

The search yielded 1771 articles from the databases, of which 20 were included. An additional seven articles were included from the grey literature. Paediatric and adult interventions were found targeting staff and family of which the general recommendations were summarised into communication models.

CONCLUSION

Future research should focus on evaluating the effectiveness of interventions using a standardised scale, understanding the specific needs of families, and exploring the communication models developed in this review.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE

Communication models for triage nurses and all emergency department nurses were developed. These may guide nurses to improve their communication which will contribute to improving family satisfaction.

REPORTING METHOD

PRISMA-ScR.

TRIAL AND PROTOCOL REGISTRATION

Protocol has been registered with the Open Science Framework, registration number 10.17605/OSF.IO/ETSYB.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

No patient or public contribution.

GridlockED as an Intervention for Nurses (GAAIN) Study

BACKGROUND

GridlockED (The Game Crafter, LLC) is a serious game that was developed to teach challenges that face nursing and medical professionals in the emergency department (ED). However, few studies have explored nurses' perceptions of the utility, fidelity, acceptability, and applicability of the serious game modality. This study examined how ED nurses view GridlockED as a continuing education platform.

METHOD

This single-center observational study explored how nurses engage with and respond to Grid-lockED. The convenience sample included participants recruited from a local continuing nursing education day. Participants completed a presurvey, engaged in a full game play session with the GridlockED game for approximately 45 minutes, and immediately completed a post-game play survey.

RESULTS

Of the 48 participants (11 male, 37 female; 44 of 48 were RNs), most (91%) agreed that the workflow reflected in the game was equivalent to the flow in a typical ED. Almost all (96%) found the cases in the game reflective of real ED patients, and most (92%) found the game a useful educational tool to prepare new nurses to transition into the ED environment.

CONCLUSION

The GridlockED game shows potential as a serious game to support nursing education, particularly for new ED nurse orientation and transition to ED practice. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2024;55(5):231-238.].

Maintaining a safe environment in emergency department waiting rooms

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.