Abstract
Introduction
Triage, a process to determine illness severity, is implemented by emergency nurses
to prioritize treatment and provide care for a maximum number of patients using limited
resources. The competency of emergency nurses and a highly reliable triage are crucial
for the provision of emergency care. Pediatric patients are different from adult patients
in certain aspects, such as growth-phase characteristics, communication ability, and
the onset of disease; these aspects often pose challenges during their primary triage.
This study explored how emergency nurses triage pediatric patients using the Korean
Triage and Acuity Scale.
Methods
Eleven emergency nurses (N = 11) working in the pediatric emergency department of a university hospital in Seoul,
South Korea, were recruited using purposive sampling methods. Phenomenography was
used to investigate the strategies by which these nurses use the Korean Triage and
Acuity Scale to triage pediatric patients.
Results
The findings comprised 2 descriptive categories: 6 approaches on how to triage patients
(categories of how) and 3 strategies (categories of what) used by pediatric emergency
nurses to triage pediatric patients with the Korean Triage and Acuity Scale.
Discussion
The experience and proficiency of emergency nurses are essential factors for the effective
triage of pediatric patients. Our findings qualitatively elucidate different ways
of understanding pediatric triage and indicate the need for pediatric triage education
programs.
Key words
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Biography
Ji Ae Yoon is a Nurse, Department of Nursing, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea. ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5654-2296.
Biography
Boo Hyo Park is a Nurse, Department of Nursing, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, South Korea. ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1453-202X.
Biography
Sung Ok Chang is Professor, College of Nursing, and BK21 FOUR R and E Center for Learning Health Systems, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea. ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2710-4291.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 21, 2022
Identification
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© 2022 Emergency Nurses Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
