Clinical research nursing: evidence today, better practices tomorrow.

Most nurses are very familiar with the need for evidence-based practice, yet far fewer actually participate in the research that is a vital underpinning to evidence-based practice. This article explains the specialty of clinical research nursing and offers suggestions for getting involved.

Female authorship in emergency medicine parallels women practicing academic emergency medicine.

Background: Studies have shown that women in emergency medicine (EM) lag behind their male counterparts in academic productivity.

Objectives: We compared the proportion of female attending physicians from EM academic programs to the proportion of female first or second authors of original scientific manuscripts and case reports from four major EM journals in a single year.

Methods: We used a retrospective cross-sectional design.

Emergency medicine resident performed bedside ultrasonography of the gallbladder in non-fasted healthy volunteers.

Background: Gallbladder ultrasonography is a commonly performed test in the emergency department. It is unknown whether a non-fasting state alters the visualization of the gallbladder by emergency medicine (EM) residents.

Objectives: We conducted this study to determine whether EM residents are able to visualize the gallbladder in volunteers who have recently consumed a fatty meal.

Does the simple triage and rapid treatment method appropriately triage patients based on trauma injury severity score?

Objectives: To correlate the simple triage and rapid treatment (START) colors to trauma injury severity scores (ISS).

Design: Six volunteer healthcare providers unfamiliar with START were trained to triage. Each chart was designated a START color by a volunteer healthcare provider and the "expert" trainer.

Cross sectional survey of ultrasound use for central venous catheter insertion among resident physicians.

Background: Use of ultrasound guidance for Central Venous Catheter insertion has been associated with decreased complications and increased success rates. Previous reports show low rates of use among physicians.

Objectives: Evaluation of the frequency of Ultrasound Guidance use for Central Venous Catheter insertion among residents at a teaching institution.

A randomized controlled trial of ultrasound-assisted lumbar puncture.

Objective: Evidence showing the systematic utility of ultrasound imaging during lumbar puncture (LP) in the emergency department is lacking. Our hypothesis was that ultrasound-assisted LP would increase the success rate and ease of performing LP with a greater benefit in obese patients.

Methods: This was an Institutional Review Board-approved, randomized, prospective, double-blind study conducted at the emergency department of a teaching institution.