Can nurses, working in the emergency department, independently clear cervical spines?: a review of the literature

Abstract

The prompt clearance of a patient's cervical spine is extremely beneficial both to the patients and the department however correct guidelines and education must be established before this can be undertaken safely. This paper examines whether nurses given the appropriate training and education using appropriate diagnostic and clinical criteria can safely, effectively clear cervical spines without consulting a medical practitioner. The paper explores the use of the Nexus Guidelines [J.R. Hoffman, W.R. Mower, A.B. Wolfson, New England Journal of Medicine 343 (2) (2000) 94-99] as a clinical prediction tool and presents evidence for its use.