Factors affecting the triage decision-making ability of emergency nurses in Northern China: A multi-center descriptive survey

IntroductionThe quality of triage decision-making is a prerequisite for priority treatment of critically ill patients and effective utilization of medical resources. Figuring out how to improve triage decision-making is still a topic around the global emergency department. Hence, this study aims to promote an understanding of triage priority care and clarify the elements influencing triage decision-making ability, offering reference for the future to improve the quality of triage decision-making.MethodA total of 404 emergency nurses from 11 tertiary hospitals in northern China were surveyed by questionnaire, of which 371 valid questionnaires were submitted (effective rate = 91.83 %). One hospital distributed the questionnaire face-to-face, and the other ten used online form.ResultPrior to occupying triage jobs, only a quarter of participants(25.30 %)were qualified. Less than half of emergency nurses (46.60 %) reported taking part in the triage training program. The emergency nurses' triage decision-making ability score was 166.50 ± 26.90(95 %CI 163.75,169.24) in northern China. Gender(P = 0.003), case discussion(P = 0.024), secondary assessment(P = 0.020)and knowledge of triage consensus(P = 0.027) are independent factors influencing triage decision-making ability.ConclusionEmergency triage practices are less implemented in northern China. The triage decision-making ability of emergency nurses in northern China is at a low level. Providing emergency nurses with diverse opportunities to develop their triage skills, finding effective triage training content, form, and frequency, strengthening implement triage consensus, and wisely managing triage nurse resources would improve triage decision-making.     

Validation of different pediatric triage systems in the emergency department

BACKGROUND: Triage system in children seems to be more challenging compared to adults because of their different response to physiological and psychosocial stressors. This study aimed to determine the best triage system in the pediatric emergency department.     

Effect of triage on physicians' clinical decision: A prospective,observational, single-center and cross-sectional study

Objective: To investigate the effect of the use of color codes for patient triage on physicians' clinical decision. Methods: This prospective study was conducted among female patients aged 18-65 years who visited the emergency department (ED) with complaints of acute abdominal pain. A 3-level of triage system [red (very urgent), yellow (urgent) and green (less urgent)] was used in our ED. All patients were green level. Half of these patients remained at the green level (the green group), and the remaining patients were re-labeled as false yellow (the false yellow group) in the order of ED visits. Ordering tests, consultation requests, intravenous treatment, length of hospital stay, and cost were compared between the two groups of patients. Results: In total 393 patients were included with 198 patients in the green group and 195 in the false yellow group. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in age, temperature, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse and oxygen saturation (P>0.05). It was observed that more tests (P=0.001), consultations (P<0.001), and intravenous treatment were requested (P<0.001), and the duration of stay in the ED was longer (P<0.001) and cost (P<0.001) was higher in the false yellow group. Conclusions: Triage do affect the decisions of physicians on female patients with acute abdominal pain.     

情景模拟训练对低年资急诊分诊护士岗位胜任能力及分诊质量的影响

目的探讨情景模拟训练对低年资急诊分诊护士岗位胜任能力及分诊质量的影响。方法采用整群便利抽样法,选取2017年6月至2019年6月本院急诊科低年资护士25名作为研究对象。将情景模拟训练方法引入护士急救培训工作中,比较培训前后护士急救事件岗位胜任能力得分、护士急救技能得分。结果在模拟训练6个月后急诊护士专业知识、专业技术、专业能力及个人综合素质评分均显著高于训练前(P<0.05);CPR、插管配合、洗胃、吸痰、静脉穿刺及电除颤技能评分均显著高于训练前(P<0.05);综合操作时间短于培训前(P<0.05)。结论情景模拟训练应用于低年资急诊分诊护士中,可以显著提高低年资急诊护士的岗位胜任能力和急救技能水平,对提高医院急救成功率及护理水平均具有重要意义。     

Effect of patient sex on triage for ischaemic heart disease and treatment onset times: A retrospective analysis of Australian emergency department data

Time between emergency department (ED) presentation and treatment onset is an important, but little-researched phase within the revascularization process for ischaemic heart disease (IHD).ObjectiveTo determine if sex influences triage score allocation and treatment onset for patients with IHD in the ED.MethodsRetrospective data for patients 18–85 years presenting to EDs from 2005 to 2010 for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), unstable and stable angina, and chest pain were analysed collectively and separately for AMI.ResultsProportionately more men (61% of males) were triaged correctly for AMI than women (51.4% of females; P < 0.001). Across all triage categories, average treatment time was faster for men than women with AMI (P < 0.001). When incorrectly triaged for AMI, treatment time for men was faster than for women (P = 0.04). When correctly triaged for AMI, there was no difference in mean treatment time between men and women (P = 0.538).ConclusionsSubstantial undertriage of AMI occurred for both sexes, but was worse in women. Incorrect triage led to prolonged treatment times for AMI, with women’s treatment delays longer than men’s. When triaged correctly, both sexes were treated early for AMI, emphasising the need for all patients to be accurately triaged for this time-sensitive disease.     

Prehospital triage in emergency medical services system: A scoping review

BackgroundDuring the prehospital phase, paramedics consider patients’ condition according to illness, injury, disease and decide on transport to an appropriate hospital according to severity. This can affect patient survival and treatment prognosis, because despite intervention at this early stage, problems such as incorrect triage of severity and inappropriate hospital selection may occur, indicating a need for improvement in the process.PurposeThe aim of this review is to identify the overall trend of research conducted on prehospital triage by analyzing the emergency medical services system and presenting future studies to practitioners and researchers.MethodsA scoping review was conducted of existing literature on research trends in relation to prehospital triage. The studies reviewed were identified using electronic databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus.ResultsNinety-eight documents were finally selected and analyzed that focused on prehospital triage status, process accuracy, tools, guidelines, and protocols.ConclusionResearch is proposed that focuses on various non-traumatic patient types, prehospital triage education, and development of training programs to reduce errors in the emergency patient handover process between prehospital and hospital health professionals and to improve patient health and quality of life.     

The prognostic value of sepsis scores and dichotomized triage score in patients presenting to the emergency department with fever: A prospective,observational study

BackgroundThe performance of the Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score needs to be explored further in the emergency triage room. This study aims to explore the performance of triage (tqSOFA) versus the dichotomized triage score (DTS) in patients admitted to the emergency room triage with fever.MethodsThis research was designed as a prospective, observational study within a six-month period, including patients who presented to the emergency room triage with infrared fever ≥ 37.5 °C.Results771 patients were analyzed.The highest sensitivity for predicting overall hospitalization and intensive care admission was seen for DTS (95.4 %, 100 %; p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, respectively) (AUC:0.697, 95 % CI 0.663 to 0.730; AUC:0.684, 95 % CI 0.650 to 0.717, respectively). The highest sensitivity for predicting 1st week and 1st month mortality was found for DTS (100 %, 96.3 %; p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, respectively). However, the highest specificity for predicting 1st week and 1st month mortality was observed in tqSOFA (94.1 %, 95.16; p = 0.0845, p < 0.0001, respectively) (AUC:0.658, 95 % CI 0.623 to 0.691; AUC:0.698, 95 % CI 0.664 to 0.730, respectively).ConclusionWe found DTS to be as effective as tqSOFA and SIRS in determining all hospitalization times and mortality.     

Missed nursing care in emergency departments: A scoping review

BackgroundPatient safety is a global health priority. Errors of omission, such as missed nursing care in hospitals, are frequent and may lead to adverse events. Emergency departments (ED) are especially vulnerable to patient safety errors, and the significance missed nursing care has in this context is not as well known as in other contexts.AimThe aim of this scoping review was to summarize and disseminate research about missed nursing care in the context of EDs.MethodA scoping review following the framework suggested by Arksey and O’Malley was used to (1) identify the research question; (2) identify relevant studies; (3) select studies; (4) chart the data; (5) collate, summarize, and report the results; and (6) consultation.ResultsIn total, 20 themes were derived from the 55 included studies. Missed or delayed assessments or other fundamental care were examples of missed nursing care characteristics. EDs not staffed or dimensioned in relation to the patient load were identified as a cause of missed nursing care in most included studies. Clinical deteriorations and medication errors were described in the included studies in relation to patient safety and quality of care deficiencies. Registered nurses also expressed that missed nursing care was undignified and unsafe.ConclusionThe findings from this scoping review indicate that patients’ fundamental needs are not met in the ED, mainly because of the patient load and how the ED is designed. According to registered nurses, missed nursing care is perceived as undignified and unsafe.     

Triaging and referring in adjacent general and emergency departments (the TRIAGE-trial): A process evaluation of medical staff experiences in a nurse-led triage system

AimsThis process evaluation aims at identifying the facilitators and inhibitors that influenced the successful uptake of a nurse-led triage system streaming low-risk patients from an emergency department (ED) to the general practitioner (GP).Design & MethodsSemi-structured interviews with ED nurses (n = 12), ED doctors (n = 6) from the ED of a Belgian general hospital and GPs (n = 5) affiliated with the adjacent GP cooperative (GPC). The process evaluation ran in parallel with the TRIAGE trial that started in March 2019 and ended 31st of December 2019. The first set of interviews was conducted in June 2019 and the second set in January 2020. Data were analysed based on grounded theory.ResultsThrough a deductive framework, facilitators and inhibitors could be identified on three levels: the organisational, group and individual level. Main inhibitors are the degree of risk aversion of individual nurses, possible language barriers during delivery of the triage advice and the non-adapted ED infrastructure. Training on both the use of the triage protocol and effective delivery of the triage advice, in combination with periodical feedback from the GPC were the most important facilitators.ConclusionBased on the process evaluation we can conclude that a consensus exists among stakeholders that the ED Nurses are considered ideally positioned to perform the triage of walk-in patients, although a certain degree of experience is necessary. Although the extended triage protocol and GPC referral increases the complexity and duration of triage and entails a higher workload for the triage nurses, ED nurses found it did lead to a lower (perceived) workload for the ED in general.     

The impact of simulation-based triage education on nursing students' self-reported clinical reasoning ability: A quasi-experimental study

Few studies have comprehensively examined the effectiveness of simulation-based triage education on clinical reasoning of nursing students. This study evaluated the impact of a simulation-based triage exercise on nursing students’ self-reported clinical reasoning ability. Three cohorts of third-year nursing students were divided into intervention group a (IG a, n = 62), intervention group b (IG b, n = 57), and a control group (CG, n = 53). Students in IG a and IG b participated in a simulation-based triage education consisting of 2 h of multiple patient triage simulations and an hour of structured debriefing. The CG participated in a traditional didactic triage course consisting of a 3-h lecture. Self-reported clinical reasoning ability in pre and post-triage education was measured by the Nurses Clinical Reasoning Scale. There was no significant difference in mean clinical reasoning ability scores between the three groups in pre-test (p > 0.05). Clinical reasoning ability scores in post-test among students in IG a and IG b were significantly higher than those in CG (p < 0.001). Nursing students exposed to a simulation-based triage education had more improvement in self-reported clinical reasoning ability as compared with students who participated in a lecture-based triage education program.     

The Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale: A Canadian perspective on emergency department triage

The Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale has received widespread acceptance in Canada as a reliable and valid tool for emergency department triage. The importance of accurate triage becomes more apparent as emergency department volumes increase, and resources shrink. The need to ensure that those patients requiring more urgent care receive care first is the basis for all triage scales. Through the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale National Working Group, the scale became the recommended triage tool for Canadian emergency departments. Work has been done on the interrater reliability of Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale among health care providers. There is a need to further assess the validity of the scale. This scale has now been applied in the out of hospital setting by paramedics and is being used in measurements of emergency physician workload. The future may see an electronic triage tool develop for emergency department use to reduce variability in its application. The Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale has become an integral component of Canadian emergency departments.     

Nurse-led interventions for cancer patients in emergency departments: Systematic review

BackgroundThe Australian government introduced national emergency access targets in 2011 to improve emergency department efficiency. Innovative nursing models of care could achieve these targets with cancer patients, who often present to emergency departments with treatment-related toxicities and poorly-managed symptoms.AimTo investigate whether national emergency access-like targets are achievable with interventions led by Advanced Practice Cancer Nurses when cancer patients attend Emergency Departments.MethodAuthors searched electronic databases CINHAL, MEDLINE and Cochrane to July 2016. Outcomes included length of stay, adverse events, patient satisfaction, and cost effectiveness. Two reviewers independently conducted data extraction and risk of bias assessment using standard Cochrane methodology.ResultsOf the 579 titles retrieved, six randomised control trials met identified eligibility criteria. Nurse-led interventions significantly reduced emergency departments’ length of stay in two studies and improved patient satisfaction in two studies without affecting mortality, readmission and re-examination. Cost data could not be translated to the Australian context because of different salary scales and funding models.DiscussionThis review did not identify investigations of any nurse-led interventions to improve national emergency access-like targets in presenting cancer patients. While it is unclear if Advanced Practice Cancer Nurses can treat cancer patients more efficiently as standard care, there is some indication that Advanced Practice Cancer Nurses might be able to deliver improved length of stay for cancer patients in emergency departments.ConclusionRigorous research is needed to implement and evaluate this role at the interface of the emergency departments and the cancer setting.     

Impacts of the introduction of a triage system in Japan: A time series study

The aim of the present study was to measure and compare the effectiveness of nursing triage before and after introduction of the Japanese Triage and Acuity Scale (JTAS), the Japanese version of the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS), during emergency treatment. Surveys of triage nurses and emergency physicians were conducted before and after JTAS introduction. Respondents were triage nurses (before 112 cases, after 94 cases), emergency physicians (before 50, after 41), and triaged patients (before 1057, after 1025) from seven separate emergency medical facilities. The results showed that nursing triage using the JTAS shortened “time from registration to triage” by 3.8 min, “triage duration” by 1 min, “time from registration to physician” by 11.2 min, and “waiting time perceived by patients to see a physician” by 18.6 min (p < 0.001). The difference in assigned level of urgency between triage nurses and emergency physicians decreased from 34.2% to 12.2% (p < 0.001), over-triage decreased from 24.7% to 8.6% (p < 0.001), and under-triage decreased from 9.5% to 3.6% (p < 0.001). Furthermore, assessment agreement between triage nurses and emergency physicians increased significantly, from weighted κ = 0.486 to weighted κ = 0.820. These findings suggest that the introduction of the JTAS promoted more effective nursing triage and medical care.     

Non-invasive mechanical ventilation in Australian emergency departments: A prospective observational cohort study

Objectives

Data describing use of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in the emergency department (ED) setting consist primarily of physician surveys. Our objective was to conduct a prospective study to document the characteristics of patients receiving NIV, interfaces, mode, and parameters used as well as NIV duration and decision-making responsibility.

Methods

We conducted a 2-month prospective observational study of adult patients who received NIV in 24 EDs. Patient characteristics, delivery methods, and decision-making responsibility were documented for each ED presentation.

Results

Data were recorded on 245 patients; 185 patients received non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) and 60 received continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Acute cardiogenic pulmonary oedema (ACPO) (80/245, 33%) and exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (75/245, 31%) were the two most frequent indications for NIV. Compared to patients with respiratory failure from other aetiologies, those with ACPO were more likely to receive CPAP (28/80 [35%] versus 32/165 [19%] P = 0.008). Initial NIV settings were selected by ED nurses for 118/245 (48%) patients, by ED physicians for 118/245 (48%) patients, and by ICU staff for 3/245 (1.5%) patients (not reported for 6 [2.5%] patients). The role of ED nurses in the selection of initial NIV settings was not influenced by ED location, patient type or triage category.

Conclusions

Acute exacerbations of CPO and COPD were the most common indications for NIV. Clinicians demonstrated a preference for NIPPV for all patient aetiologies except ACPO. Responsibility for NIV management was shared by ED nurses and physicians.