Evaluation of an Evidence-Based Throat-Pain Protocol to Reduce Left-Without-Being-Seen, Length of Stay, and Antibiotic Prescribing

Although this department has only partially implemented a protocol for throat pain, it highlights the benefits to reduce the number of patients that LWBS and reduce patient length of stay. The use of the protocol also improved adherence to clinical practice guidelines for testing and antibiotic prescribing.Contribution to Emergency Nursing Practice
- With increasing wait times across the country, it is important to consider all time-saving strategies to improve ED throughput, such as a nurse-initiated throat-pain protocol.
- Adoption of practices that support diagnostics testing early in the patient visit decreases the number of patients who leave without being seen.
- Nursing application of a throat-pain protocol increases adherence to clinical practice guidelines and improves antibiotic stewardship.