[Non-urgent access to care and nurses' roles in the Emergency Department: a narrative literature review].
OBJECTIVE
To detect what is written in literature with respect to the access of non-urgent patients in Emergency Department, highlighting associated nursing roles during the period 2003-2013.


METHODS
A literature review on international literature was carried out using PubMed database, where 41 significant articles were selected.


RESULTS
The articles analyzed are focused on the organization of the E.D., the response patterns (Fast Track-See and Treat etc.) in some countries and the evaluation of the nursing roles and competences. In literature, the model and the roles studied have proved to be effective in reducing waiting times in E.D. and increasing users' satisfaction without reducing the quality of provided care.


CONCLUSIONS
The literature shows that the implementation of Fast Track must be developed with a nursing staff with advanced skills on emergency. The introduction of these roles assumes that health systems should address the problem of inter-professional work.
RN, MSN, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Roma. Corrispondence: c.born85@gmail.com.
Caterina
C
Bornaccioni
RN, MSN, Ospedale G.B. Grassi, Roma.
Alessia
A
Coltella
RN, MSN, Policlinico Umberto I, Roma.
Elena
E
Pompi
Professor of Nursing Science, Nursing Research Unit, Department of Public Health and Infectious Disease, Sapienza University of Rome. Corrispondence: julita.sansoni@uniroma1.it.
Julita
J
Sansoni
D002983:Clinical Competence; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D024802:Nurse's Role; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D014850:Waiting Lists