How to manage an overcrowded emergency department waiting room

As emergency departments (EDs) become increasingly pressured by rising patient numbers, waits for cubicle spaces are also increasing, leading to waiting room overcrowding. Oversight of the waiting room will most often fall to nursing staff. Hospitals may assign dedicated nurses, but due to staffing and budgetary issues the role frequently falls to streaming or triage nurses. Patients in the waiting room may be awaiting assessment or treatment, so present particular risks of deterioration or sudden adverse events. Therefore, understanding how nurses can mitigate potential pitfalls from managing overcrowded waiting rooms is vital for maintaining patient safety.