Emergency Department Boarding Stories

"We are a 35 bed ED (with variability of actual available beds based on staffing). There are rarely (almost never) less than 15 boarders (so almost always 50% boarded at least) and often 20-25 boarders (sometimes more). We may have from ten to 40+ patients in our waiting room at any given time and with our nurses dealing with boarding patients, there may be times when we have every available nurse managing boarding patients and no RN to assist with new patient evaluation and stabilization.

The pores of the net are being stretched to the point that it may soon be simply be no net at all.

Very disheartening, and also leads to an endless cycling of frustration...staff leaving...worsening burden on remaining staff and then even more staff leaving. I am concerned about the survival of the ED as the safety net of our health care system. The pores of the net are being stretched to the point that it may soon be simply be no net at all."