Author: Keke Jarrett

An extra dose of kindness was in the air at Emergency Nursing 2023, thanks to Shola Richards. The self-dubbed kindness guru kicked off the conference by challenging attendees to transform their workplaces with kindness that is rooted in the African philosophy of Ubuntu.

This year’s recipient of the Judith C. Kelleher Award — ENA’s most prestigious honor — was presented to longtime emergency nurse and educator Cam Brandt, MS, RN, CEN, CPEN, at the Anita Dorr Memorial Luncheon and Lecture.

Emergency Nursing 2023 celebrated the rock stars of the specialty at the Hall of Honor Reception and the Academy of Emergency Nursing Dinner and Induction Ceremony, commending these remarkable nurses for their achievements in advancing emergency nursing.

The digital age has opened up vast new audiences for those who lie about having medical ailments to gain attention. Gina Slobogin, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, NHDP-BC, NEA-BC, PGMT-BC, BC-ADM, TCRN, CEN, CPEN, CFRN, CTRN, PHRN, led the session “Munchausen by Internet” to educate nurses on how to identify and treat these patients.

Many first responders silently grapple with the impact of the traumas they are exposed to on the job, reluctant to go public with their mental health struggles. Brandi Beers, DNP, RN, EMT-B, CEN, TCRN, relayed her own story of seeking help during “It’s OK to Not Be OK” in hopes it would encourage others to…

At a time when many health care organizations are struggling to retain nurses, it is even more imperative for leaders to create and maintain a healthy work environment for everyone. Charlene Draleau, MSN, RN, CPN, CPEN, NPD-BC, TCRN, will lead “Nursing’s Dirty Little Secret: Identifying and Addressing Bullying in Nursing” to share solutions for interprofessional…

Military service often leads to unique medical, mental and social conditions for veterans. Benjamin Thelen, MSN, RN, CNML, will lead “Caring for the Veteran Population and VA Emergency Nursing” to help nurses understand these factors to provide relevant nursing assessments and appropriate interventions for the veteran population.

Kathy Van Dusen, MSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, NHDP-BC, will lead the fast track session “Lessons to Learn: A Review of Devastating Disasters and What Emergency Nurses Can Learn from Them” to prepare front-line caregivers for disaster management scenarios, including emergency preparedness, prevention, response and recovery.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported 588,000 substantiated cases of child mistreatment, from neglect to sexual abuse, in 2021. Gail Hornor, DNP, CPNP, SANE-P, examined the critical roles forensic evidence collection and physical exams in the ED serve in identifying cases of child sexual abuse during “Child Sexual Abuse: Essentials for Emergency…