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Nurses’ evaluation of a new formalized triage system in the emergency department-a qualitative study

Johansen, Mette Brehm and Forberg, Jakob Lundager LU (2011) In Dan Med Bull 58(10).
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Formalized triage in the emergency department (ED) is not widely used in Denmark; this study explores the effects of introducing a five-level process triage
system in a Danish ED.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Semi-structured qualitative
interviews were conducted with 15 emergency nurses.
The interviews were preceded by observations of the
work of the ED nurses in which focus was on the triage
process.
RESULTS: Formalized triage was experienced to improve
the overview of patients and resources at the ED, and
the nurses described that they felt more assured when
prioritizing between patients. Communication and coordination were also improved by the triage system. But more
time spent on... (More)
INTRODUCTION: Formalized triage in the emergency department (ED) is not widely used in Denmark; this study explores the effects of introducing a five-level process triage
system in a Danish ED.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Semi-structured qualitative
interviews were conducted with 15 emergency nurses.
The interviews were preceded by observations of the
work of the ED nurses in which focus was on the triage
process.
RESULTS: Formalized triage was experienced to improve
the overview of patients and resources at the ED, and
the nurses described that they felt more assured when
prioritizing between patients. Communication and coordination were also improved by the triage system. But more
time spent on documentation and re-evaluation may cause
the nurses to feel professionally inadequate if adequate
resources are not provided. Furthermore, the triage system
has reduced the focus on the humanistic and psychosocial
aspects of nursing. Difficulties were occasionally experienced when categorizing patients with diffuse symptoms
according to the standardized triage symptoms and signs’
algorithms.
CONCLUSION: Introducing a formalized triage system in the
ED was experienced to give a better overview and more
overall control of ED patients. Adequate resources are
needed to ensure that a stronger focus on documentation
and re-evaluation related to triage does not produce a feeling of professional inadequacy among the staff. (Less)
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author
and
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type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Dan Med Bull
volume
58
issue
10
article number
A4311
external identifiers
  • scopus:80053616893
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
c518dd7b-45c6-4894-b4e9-d71352e575e4
alternative location
https://ugeskriftet.dk/files/scientific_article_files/2018-11/a4311.pdf
date added to LUP
2021-03-29 14:16:53
date last changed
2022-06-21 14:51:18
@article{c518dd7b-45c6-4894-b4e9-d71352e575e4,
  abstract     = {{INTRODUCTION: Formalized triage in the emergency department (ED) is not widely used in Denmark; this study explores the effects of introducing a five-level process triage<br/>system in a Danish ED.<br/>MATERIAL AND METHODS: Semi-structured qualitative<br/> interviews were conducted with 15 emergency nurses.<br/>The interviews were preceded by observations of the<br/>work of the ED nurses in which focus was on the triage<br/>process.<br/>RESULTS: Formalized triage was experienced to improve<br/>the overview of patients and resources at the ED, and<br/>the nurses described that they felt more assured when<br/> prioritizing between patients. Communication and coordination were also improved by the triage system. But more<br/>time spent on documentation and re-evaluation may cause<br/>the nurses to feel professionally inadequate if adequate<br/> resources are not provided. Furthermore, the triage system<br/>has reduced the focus on the humanistic and psychosocial<br/>aspects of nursing. Difficulties were occasionally experienced when categorizing patients with diffuse symptoms<br/>according to the standardized triage symptoms and signs’<br/>algorithms.<br/>CONCLUSION: Introducing a formalized triage system in the<br/>ED was experienced to give a better overview and more<br/>overall control of ED patients. Adequate resources are<br/>needed to ensure that a stronger focus on documentation<br/>and re-evaluation related to triage does not produce a feeling of professional inadequacy among the staff.}},
  author       = {{Johansen, Mette Brehm and Forberg, Jakob Lundager}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{10}},
  series       = {{Dan Med Bull}},
  title        = {{Nurses’ evaluation of a new formalized triage system in the emergency department-a qualitative study}},
  url          = {{https://ugeskriftet.dk/files/scientific_article_files/2018-11/a4311.pdf}},
  volume       = {{58}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}