The emergency department nurses are noting an unusually high number of patients coming in with complaints of nausea, vomiting, and severe headache. What should be done with this information?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms described could be indicative of a potential outbreak or contamination, so it is important to involve the Infection Control Department and Laboratory Medicine to determine if there is a potential source of infection or contamination that needs to be addressed. Closing the emergency department may not be necessary at this point but increased vigilance and infection control precautions may be required. Additional staffing may be needed, but the more critical response is to investigate the cause of the symptoms.

The Emergency Department Nurses Are Noting an Unusually High Number