Decreasing ED Length of Stay with Use of the Ottawa Ankle Rules Among Nurses

ED crowding threatens patient safety and public health. Several studies have evaluated the ability of emergency departments in the United States to handle the demands that are being placed on them daily. ED crowding is widespread throughout the United States, with little evidence that the problem is being resolved. Emergency departments play a valuable role in the health care system because they act like a type of safety net. However, according to a recent report by the Institute of Medicine, this safety net is at a point where it is no longer effective