What quick access info would you want when new to ED?

[Joshua21]

Hey all, I've been chosen to create a hospital specific pocket reference manual for new staff to ease transition. I know this is far from new and I know there are others in cyber land who have experience in this. I've been racking my brain trying to think of what are the useful policies a new Grad or Hire would like to have at hand in a portable pocket book. Not much success so I now turn to you all. Could you please throw some ideas at me? Again what I'm specifically looking for:

Policies and Procedures that are common but maybe slightly different in each ED

Common Policies and Procedures that are used enough to need to know but not often enough to become routine

Routine Policies and Procedures

Items that help you to hit the floor running. An example is P&P for hanging blood. I will post this in other pertinent forums but I hope to get a great response here.

Our hospital is primarily Cardiac and Neuro, 40 bed ED with,...yes with borders occasionally.

Thankyou all

Jeff

[TooterIA]

I work in a very small ER and there are many things I wish I knew, so here we go! The number one thing I think would be helpful, especially for new grads, is one of those flip books that tells you Generic/Brand name. I cannot tell you how frustrating it is when the Dr orders a med in the name I am not familiar with and I spend 10 minutes searching for a flip book. I finally stole one from teh ER for myself and carry it with me at all times.

A P&P I would recommend is AMA, it is hard when a patient really wants to leave AMA and I am fumbling to see what I need to do before they leave. Since you sound ilke a large facility I maybe wouldnt focus so much on transfer papers, but I sure am familiar with them at my hospital. I would also suggest protocol for codes, like push meds, what is shockable, etc. How about concious sedation for when you are putting a shoulder back into place or some such thing?

Since I am not familiar with your facility I would suggest talking to your ER nurses or flipping through your log book and seeing what procedures have been done frequently. And once you get the new staff trained, be sure to ask them what they think will be helpful! Good luck, it sounds like a fun project.