700,000 drug reaction cases in EDs each year: Nurses are first to ID them: Connect a patient's symptoms with their medications

An estimated 700,000 patients come to EDs with adverse drug events (ADEs) each year, and. this number is expected to increase due to more older patients with chronic conditions. Patients 65 and older were more than twice as likely to come to the ED for an ADE. • Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, antibiotics, and pain medications can cause facial swelling and compromise the patient's airway. • Ask patients if they have taken new medications or supplements. • Check to make sure the correct pills were dispensed.