Access Control
Open Access
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Embargo Period
5-23-2012
Degree Program
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Degree Track
Family Nurse Practioner
Year Degree Awarded
2012
Month Degree Awarded
May
Keywords
emergency department, critical patients, morbidity, mortality, boarding, overcrowding, delay of transfer, ICU, medication errors
Advisor Name
Karen
Advisor Last Name
Plotkin
Capstone Chair Name
Karen
Plotkin
Capstone Member Name
Cynthia
Jaceoln
Capstone Outside Member Name
Scott
Lethi
Abstract
Prolonged boarding times (increased wait times for admitted patients) in the emergency department result in an increase in morbidity and mortality in critically ill adult patients admitted to the ICU. Overcrowding in the emergency department (ED), medication errors, and a delay in transfer to the ICU are the leading reasons for an increase in morbidity and mortality. This project focuses on a comprehensive assessment of a Las Vegas emergency department. The assessment will determine if the issues cited in the literature of: 1) overcrowding, 2) medication errors, and 3) delay in transfer are a current problem in the Las Vegas emergency department and based on the assessment data and evidence-based plan will be developed.