Emergency Nurses Continue to Use Infectious Disease Control Expertise to Triage Patients as Ebola Surfaces in the US
(October 2, 2014) – While the risk of an Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in the United States remains low, emergency nurses including Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) members are highly trained and uniquely positioned to safely triage patients with infectious diseases. Infection control policies and procedures are utilized on a daily basis in emergency care settings, and emergency nurses are required to know how to safely care for infectious disease patients.
“While Ebola is new to the U.S., and there is heightened public awareness surrounding the disease, properly caring for patients with infectious diseases is not new to ENA members who are specially trained to spot diseases and safely care for patients, the public and themselves,” said ENA president Deena Brecher, MSN, RN, APN, ACNS-BC, CEN, CPEN. “It is standard practice for emergency nurses to take correct history at triage, participate in collaborative dialogue across the healthcare team, and control the spread of infectious diseases in a timely manner.”
Hospitals across the U.S. are prepared for patients exposed to Ebola arriving for medical care. Emergency nurses have several resources at their disposal including the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) Ebola Virus Disease screening criteria, which were developed to assist with screening and detection of the signs, symptoms and travel history consistent with exposure to Ebola.
For the latest information about Ebola, the public and healthcare professionals are encouraged to visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov.
Media Contact:
Marie Grimaldi
Communications & PR Manager, ENA
847.460.4080
mgrimaldi@ena.org
About the Emergency Nurses Association
The Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) is the premier professional nursing association dedicated to defining the future of emergency nursing through advocacy, education, research, innovation, and leadership. Founded in 1970, ENA has proven to be an indispensable resource to the global emergency nursing community. With more than 40,000 members worldwide, ENA advocates for patient safety, develops industry-leading practice standards and guidelines, and guides emergency healthcare public policy. ENA members have expertise in triage, patient care, disaster preparedness, and nearly all aspects of emergency care. Additional information is available at www.ena.org.
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