Effect of Triage Education on Nurses’ Performance in Diverse Emergency Departments

Abstract


 
 
 Context: Nurses are the primary anchorpersons of triage in emergency departments. Triage nurse should have the proper education and proficiency in emergency triage, decision making, and emergency nursing care. Training on triage is an integral part of emergency nursing education. Poor performance and lack of education are well documented in the literature.
 
 
 
 
 
 Aim: This study aimed at evaluating the effect of triage education on emergency nurses’ performance in diverse emergency departments.
 
 
 
 
 methods: Quasi-experimental (pre, post-test design) used to achieve the aim of this study. A purposive sample of one hundred fifty emergency nurses worked at pediatric, Obstetric, and adult emergency departments affiliated to three major governmental hospitals in Beni-Suef Governorate. Assessment of the nurses’ knowledge, practice, and attitude have been done using a self-administered questionnaire, triage competencies observational checklist, and nurses’ attitude measuring scale.
 
 
 
 
 Results: The study revealed poor nurses’ triage knowledge, practice, and negative attitude for the studied nurses before triage education, compared to a significant improvement after triage educational program, with a statistically significant difference among the three-implementation phases (pre, post, and one month follow up).
 
 
 
 
 
 Conclusion: The nurses who are subjected to triage education improved in their knowledge, practice, and attitude at the post-intervention evaluation compared to their pre-intervention level, which sustained after one month follow up. These findings support the study hypotheses. Based on these findings, the study recommended the publication and dissemination of the triage educational program. Besides, fostering and sustaining the improvements in practices regarding triage in ED through the orientation of new nurses, on the job training, and continuous education.
 
 

Training program impact on nurses' knowledge and practice regarding obstetric triage

“…Regarding their experience handling obstetric emergencies, the majority of them handled obstetric emergencies. These findings of the current study disagree with Faheim et al [8] , who stated that more than half (54.0%) of nurses working in the obstetric emergency department have more than five years of experience. Also disagree with Ali et al [11] , who found that two-thirds of them (45.7%) have more than 20 years of experience at work.…”

“…The researcher developed this checklist to evaluate the practice of emergency nurses regarding triage. It included forty-four questions, including triage communication ( 9) as participants use clarity when giving each other instructions; triage assessment (8) as participants assess the triage room for the availability of the patient's safety precautions such as bedside rails and upstairs; triage categories based on MFIT (8) as they assign an MFTI prioritization score; and documentation of triage assessment findings (19) as they document chief symptoms, complaints, or information desired.…”

“…Developing procedures for obstetric crises, including the triage process, is critical for providing the highest quality, least expensive nursing care and increasing client happiness. Furthermore, for women's general safety and well-being, nurse trainees should be highly informed and well-trained caretakers [8] .…”

Effects of Educational Program on Maternity Nurses’ Knowledge and Practice Regarding Obstetric Triage

“…As a result, educating emergency nurses appropriately about triage and keeping knowledgeable and experienced nurses for triage will save many lives, prevent disabilities, and reduce complications in addition to lowering healthcare expenses. Therefore, proper triage training can increase triage nurses' effectiveness and confidence, enabling them to act more competently (Faheim et al, 2019). index.…”

Knowledge of triage and its correlated factors among Emergency Department Nurses

“…However, given the rising need for emergency care, the educational system for educating emergency nurses is still insufficient. Previous studies found that the emergency room has not implemented triage because of a lack of information, nurses, and patient care motivation (Faheim et al, 2019). The most important factors to improve the quality of care and patient safety are continuing education and training programs linked to triage and advanced management of medical emergencies.…”