Hello Steph

I am an HPS and work in a small ED and have, had the same probelm for
12
I also triage the children when the department is busy, under the
supervision of the registered staff.
We do assess in the waiting area, only when there are no other
children and their families or if exteremly busy. There are also
confidentiality issues with assessing in the waiting area, treatments
are not carried out in this area but observations are occasionally
with 3 cubicles and a busy sunday afernoon with standing room only,
what do we do make them wait until there are cubicle free and delay
there assessment which has an impact on there care and treatment and
not forgeting the wonderful 4 hour A&E targets. Sorry had a bit of a
nursey hat on then.we are also moving in to a bigger ED in January
but i feel that this will continue to be a problem.

Suzanne
ED Ipswich Hospital

--- In Hospitalplayspec ialists@..., "tiggersteph82"
<stephanie.lockwood@...> wrote:
>
> I work in A&E. Our department is small, with 3 cubicles used for
> patient exams and treatments. There is a small area around the
> nurses station where patients are usually triaged. We also have a
> playroom that is used as the waiting area and observation area.
Some
> nurses will triage patients in the playroom, and this often
involves
> doing observations such as temperature, resps, pulse, etc.
Medicines
> can also be given in the playroom. On occasions, exams will also
be
> conducted in the playroom. Treatments do not happen in the
playroom.
>
> My play specialist training taught that the playroom should be
> a 'safe area', free from such things as obs, meds, and exams.
> However, in my experience working in A&E, it sometimes is the case
> that the child is less distressed in the playroom, and therefore
the
> best place in which to do these things, for the child, is the
> playroom. I am therefore having a dilemna over whether or not to
> push for the playroom being a 'safe area' or not.
>
> Next year we will hopefully open a new Paediatric A&E, with a
> separate waiting area and observation area. I am in the process of
> drafting a set of rules/guidelines for what should and should not
> happen in these areas as far as obs, meds, and exams are concerned.
>
> I would welcome any thoughts anybody has on these matters. Thank
you,
> Steph Lockwood
> Play Specialist
> Emergency Department
> Queen Alexandra Hospital
> Portsmouth
> stephanie.lockwood@...
>