How Not to Kill Your Patient

In this episode, Kevin and Dr. Wolf explore the scary task of triaging a pediatric patient.   We will discuss the differences in completing a pediatric triage.  We will talk about common emergencies by age and the fine art of a pediatric assessment.   Follow us on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Art-of-Emergency-Nursing-276898616569046/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJTnz4phtCTjojT...

In this "intoxicating" episode of HNTKYP, Kevin McFarlane and Dr. Lisa Wolf explore the challenges of triaging intoxicated patients in the emergency department. They emphasize that managing intoxicated patients is far more complex than often perceived. The discussion includes intoxication as either a primary issue or a secondary complication, the pitfalls of anchoring bias, and the poor correlatio...

In this episode, Kevin and Dr. Wolf explore the effects of heat on both the body and mind. They discuss common heat emergencies, identify populations at heightened risk for heat-related issues, and discuss how certain medications can impact the body's capacity to cope with elevated temperatures. Follow us on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Art-of-Emergency-Nursing-276898616569046/ YouTube: htt...

In this episode, join Kevin and Dr. Lisa Wolf as they delve into the updates of the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) triage algorithm fifth edition.   As the first contributor to this latest iteration, Dr. Wolf brings invaluable expertise, and provides profound insights into the changes incorporated in version 5.   We will discuss practical guidance on how to implement this updated version into your...

Good documentation allows for a retrospective understanding of a patient's condition when they arrived and how it has progressed.   Vital signs are particularly critical as they reveal trends and can help detect potential issues.   But here's the real challenge, finding that sweet spot between meeting the demands of documentation and actually delivering hands-on care. We'll break down the struggle...

In this episode, Lisa and Kevin have a special guest, Annie Fulton, from Up My Nursing Game. Join us as we dive into the topic of delirium, a commonly overlooked and misdiagnosed condition in emergency departments with serious implications for patients. In this episode, we'll explore delirium identification, effective treatment options, and discuss how the emergency department can set the stage fo...

In this episode, Kevin and Dr. Wolf delve into the crucial topic of assessing and addressing changes in mental status. Mental status changes can be alarming and could be a result of various underlying medical conditions, which require prompt evaluation and management. During the episode, we will provide a comprehensive review of the most common causes of changes in the level of consciousness (LOC)...

This episode is a little different, In this episode, Kevin and Dr. Wolf have a conversation about a viral video showing a healthcare worker striking a patient who spits on him.  This video had a lot of mixed reactions from healthcare workers online.  Give it a listen and see how we think this is just a symptom of bigger problems.    Links to a couple of articles mentioned in the Episode: NOTHING C...

How Not to Kill your Patient. Just how vital are vital signs?   In this episode, Lisa and Kevin talk about how vital signed effect your triage designation.   

In this episode, Kevin and Dr. Wolf talk about emergency nurses floating out to the department into other areas.  Hopefully, this doesn't happen often but we talk about what to expect when it happens and how not to kill your floor patients.   

Kevin and Dr. Wolf discuss communication with providers and communicating a great hand-off.  This information just might save your patient's life.  Enjoy.   If you are interested in the report sheet click here

In this episode, Kevin and Dr. Wolf provide a little feedback to a question that was posted online by a new grad nurse.  If you have clinical questions you would like to have discussed send a message to Kevin on social media or by email kevin@artofemergencynursing.com .     

We think of the obstetric patient as a special population, one that we want to get the heck out of our EDs ASAP. However, lots of Obstetric units have closed, and in the current climate after Dobbs, patients will have a hard time getting good care, whether they want to be pregnant or not. Guess where all those patients are going to go? Exactly. Your ED. Have a listen on recognizing and managing OB...

In this episode, Kevin and Dr. Wolf talk about assessing and addressing pain in the emergency department.  This is the episode that will help new and even experienced emergency nurses to see the pain assessment in a whole new light.   

Geriatric patients make up a large portion of the people who come to the ER.  In this episode Kevin and Dr. Wolf talk about what to look for in geriatric patients and how not to kill grandma when she shows up in triage.  

In this episode, Kevin and Dr. Wolf talk about triaging respiratory patients.  This is the episode everyone needs to hear during the pandemic.

Kevin McFarlane and Dr. Lisa Wolf take a look at the many causes of headaches.  From the minor to the critical.  Missing some of these in triage could definitely kill your patient.  Enjoy.

Kevin McFarlane and Dr. Lisa Wolf explore the varied presentation of behavioral health patients.  Presentations may be complicated by factors like health, medications, and alcohol.     Here is a link to a great article about anxiety https://www.jenonline.org/article/S0099-1767(10)00002-4/pdf

Dr. Wolf and Kevin review the ins and outs of chest pain.  

HNTKYP is a series that address symptomatic presentation and how to move to a working diagnosis and plan for patient care. Kevin McFarlane and Lisa Wolf cover red flags, cognitive pitfalls, and ways to make sure your patients survive their encounter with the health system. In this episode, they review all the possibilities of trauma.