Abstract
The purposeOf this study was to understand emergency nurses’ use of frailty to inform care, disposition decision-making, and further assessment. MethodsA qualitative, descriptive, exploratory approach was used. Field notes from group discussions held during a conference presession on frailty and post-session evaluation data were analyzed. ResultsTwo common ideas threaded these discussions: frailty as vulnerability to “falling through the cracks” and that of an iceberg. Participants stressed the broad and expansive ramifications of frailty, and lack of structure/process to accurately describe, quantify, and utilize the concept. Participants described issues of physical and emotional/social fragility, including being unable to complete activities of daily living independently; also of concern were the patients’ social determinants of health and financial challenges. ConclusionThe conceptual understanding of frailty encompassed physical, social, cognitive, and access deficits. Emergency nurses are aware of this concept and would conduct formal frailty screening if provided with training, time, and resources.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
