see also:

• EM nursing
• nurse initiated ED treatment
• ED nurse initiated analgesia
• Western Health policies (intranet only):
  • Nurse initiated procedures
  • Nurse Initiated X-rays
  • Nurse Initiated Intravenous Opioid Analgesia Standing Orders

• patients with probable renal colic usually require iv morphine ASAP to manage their pain and most could be transferred to an EOU bed if the diagnosis is relatively clearcut
• 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.

• see also: basic nursing assessment common to all pathways

• see also: renal colic

• hypotension
• epigastric pain
• pregnancy

• urinalysis with MSU m/c/s
• if severe pain, consider admission to EOU as renal colic:
  • iv access
  • FBE, U&E, glucose
  • iv morphine analgesia
  • oral analgesia adjuncts such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), paracetamol