Emergency nursing and medical error--a survey of two states.

Introduction: This study describes issues concerning emergency nurses in 2 states and their experiences and perspectives regarding the recognition, reporting, and resolution of medical error.

Methods: To illustrate the issues involved in medical error reporting in this clinical specialty, a written survey of emergency nurses was conducted for the purpose of evaluating current practice of reporting medical error in the emergency department.

Results: There is little evidence that practical advice and guidance exist for nurses in general and for emergency nurses in particular regarding the issue of medical error recognition, reporting, and resolution.

Simulated pediatric trauma team management: assessment of an educational intervention.

Objectives: Trauma is the leading cause of death in children. The quality of initial medical care received by injured children contributes to outcomes. Our objective was to assess effectiveness of an educational intervention on performance of emergency department (ED) teams during simulated pediatric trauma resuscitations.

Simulation of pediatric trauma stabilization in 35 North Carolina emergency departments: identification of targets for performance improvement.

Objective: Trauma is the leading cause of death in children. Most children present to community hospital emergency departments (EDs) for initial stabilization. Thus, all EDs must be prepared to care for injured children.

Practical considerations for providing pediatric care in a mass casualty incident.

Children have unique physiologic and developmental characteristics that need to be considered. Plans for pediatric care during mass casualty incidents (MCIs) need to be developed. This article highlights challenges in providing care to children after MCIs and provides considerations for providing pediatric care.