just a query really!!

Published

Specializes in a&e.

Can anyone answer this for me? I am a British nurse currently studying for my nclex. It seems to be my understanding that everything in the US has to have a physician order, drugs, procedures etc... and I was just wondering how true this is? How does that work at triage? Here experienced nurses can do a one day course to enable us to administer emergency treatment at triage, eg salbutamol nebulisers, analgesia, antipyretics.. to make the patient more comfortable whilst waiting to see the doctor. Do you have a similar system in the States??:confused:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

In most hospitals in the US, we have a variety of protocols that nurses run off. Everywhere I have been has had ones to cover fever and asthma.

The best place I ever worked ran almost entirely off protocols- chest pain, nurse initiated the orders, suspected stroke, nurse initiated the orders, adb pain, etc. It speeds up things, and often several lab tests are back before the physician sees the patient. The protocols cover labs, xrays ct scans (for suspected stroke), EKG, and Meds and probably a few more things.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I work at a large level one trauma center (60,000+ visits/year) and we have a lot of protocols also.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have been working in ERs and Peds ERs for 22 years and everywhere I have worked has either protocals or standing orders that are followed. :rolleyes:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion