patients with severe back pain can be initially managed in Fast Track if clinically stable and some may require admission to EOU once red flags have been excluded
their length of stay in ED could be reduced and their symptoms partly relieved by nurse initiated ED Rx, although it is recognised that these presentations can be complex and warrant timely medical assessment to properly exclude important red flags.
the following is a suggested framework for ED's who have nurses accredited to undertake ED nurse initiated treatment including the ordering of pathology tests.