Introduction

Consider a nurse triaging a patient who was in a car accident involving alcohol; the patient has sustained multiple traumatic injuries. As the nurse is receiving a report from the emergency medical services, the patient becomes unresponsive. What should be the nurse’s next steps in caring for this patient? A triage nurse should follow the airway, breathing, circulation, disability, and exposure (ABCDE) triage assessment method and provide continuing support and care for such patients. This systematic approach ensures that life-threatening conditions are identified and addressed promptly, maximizing the patient’s chances of survival. For the nurse, this could involve monitoring and maintaining the patient’s airway, controlling bleeding, assessing neurological status, and ensuring that a patient can be closely examined from head to toe for any less obvious injuries. Throughout this process, the nurse should remain aware of the need to protect the patient’s privacy and dignity. The nurse must also maintain an awareness of the possibility that the patient could decompensate and thus should be on the alert for signs of decline or complications. To prevent these outcomes, the nurse may need to perform specific stabilizing tasks, such as administering fluids or blood products.

There are many avenues to becoming an experienced emergency department (ED) nurse. Some examples include specialized certifications, workshops, and continuing education in trauma care. This chapter discusses the steps to take during emergency situations.