Sentinal Events

Hugs to you & your coworkers.

The perfect storm of conditions which foster the possibility of a waiting room death are becoming the norm rather than the exception. :stone

Until the people that have the power to stop this insanity end up with a loved one dying because of short staffing, etc.....nothing will change. But then the people that control this kind of thing make sure that their loved ones go to well-staffed, wealthy facilities....

What really sucks is today, another 7 holds boarding in our ED. Did no one learn anything? This issue is so far reaching, it's definitely out of the hands of the immediate caregivers in the ED. And of course, understandably the pt's family was very upset, "I want names. I want the name of every nurse and Dr. in this ED." As if there were open beds and we were what, doing our nails...no wait urinating, eating? As if. Yeah there are open beds, but I am going to risk my job and license by sitting your ill grandmother back in the waiting room because..... I'm just mean? Hello! We want to get you back and seen, Duh!

You just summed up why I hate being in triage. So much responsibility with so many things out of your control. There have been nights when I have been 15 deep for 6 hours, people waiting 2 hours to be triaged. Re-evaluation becomes non-existent on nights like these. Sure, I can scan the room quickly when I get a new person to triage, but so much is happening out there that I can't stay on top of. It's dangerous, in my opinion.

We recently also had a patient in our waiting room end up coding and subsequently dying. The patient had fairly stable vitals at triage, but apparently had esophogeal varices that ruptured, and he bled out. What makes it harder is that he passed out in the bathroom, and of course the triage nurse that night didn't have time to go around looking for patients in the bathrooms. It was just thought that the pt had LWBS. So yes, triage can be a dangerous and stressful position.

Our administration is soo ok with ER holds that they are hiring nurses just to take care of the ER holds in the ER.

At least it helps staffing, i guess.

Our administration is soo ok with ER holds that they are hiring nurses just to take care of the ER holds in the ER.

At least it helps staffing, i guess.

Our hospital tried something similar to this, but it only lasted a few months. It was nice while it lasted.