Can nursing students triage ED patients?

Specialties Emergency

Published

I've heard a lot of conflicting information about this...can nursing students legally triage ED patients?

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

Triage is a huge responsibility. When I worked as a staff nurse in the ED, new ED nurses (even those with prior experience in other nursing specialties) did not get assigned to Triage until after 6 months in the ED. I don't see why nursing students can't be paired with a ED Triage nurse as part of an elective rotation but not to make independent triage decisions on their own.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

I did it a few times while still a student but my preceptor was right there with me. I think I did 3 shifts in the ED during my 12 shifts with her and 2 of those were triage.

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i'm asking mainly because over the summer i worked as a nurse extern in an ED, and there was a situation when a STEMI code was called and i was the only person left to deal with patients on the unit and was asked to go 'take a look' at the 3 people in the waiting room (it was a small community hospital) and choose who to bring back next. now i'm trying to decide how to talk about it in job applications and such, and i'm unsure if that makes me look bad because i ended up doing it. thoughts?

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.
i'm asking mainly because over the summer i worked as a nurse extern in an ED, and there was a situation when a STEMI code was called and i was the only person left to deal with patients on the unit and was asked to go 'take a look' at the 3 people in the waiting room (it was a small community hospital) and choose who to bring back next. now i'm trying to decide how to talk about it in job applications and such, and i'm unsure if that makes me look bad because i ended up doing it. thoughts?

As a nurse extern, a licensed nurse in that ED was responsible for whatever decisions you made. In that case, you could use that to highlight your experience in being able to assess acuity based on quick exam findings and that you conferred with a licensed nurse afterwards to confirm your triage decision. That would be the safe way to go about that situation. Triage is a function of licensed nurses in the ED.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

Why would you need to talk about that situation at all.. The fact that you were a nurse extern in the ED might help but you don't have to get that specific.

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it's for a essay-related question on an application, and it's true that my findings were confirmed with the RN once the STEMI patient was stabilized. i'll have to incorporate that. thank you

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

moved to emergency nursing for best response.

All patients in the ED must be evaluated/seen by a licensed nurse, a Licensed Registered nurse in most states. "Eye balling" the patients is not triaging.....per se....they still need a nurse evaluation.

What you did was......

Assisting the staff in an emergency situation to ensure the safety and well being of the entire population is being a team player and responding responsibly in a stressful situation. As a Staff member and a part of that team....you were given the proper training, and demonstrated competency, to observe patients symptoms, know vital signs and alert the nursing staff of abnormalities and proved your competence in this particular situation showing what you had learned and being an integrated part of the team.

Good Luck on your application.

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was asked to go 'take a look' at the 3 people in the waiting room (it was a small community hospital) and choose who to bring back next.
That's not triaging so I definitely would not say that in an interview because it will make it look like you don't know what triaging means. Just say that you were allowed the opportunity to make critical care decisions while working in the ER and gained some perspective on the importance of prioritization...etc. etc. Good luck!
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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

The short answer to your question is ... absolutely not. And so I strongly caution you against implying any such thing on an application, in a cover letter, or in an interview. What you encountered was a time in the ER during your preceptorship when your ER was operating in crisis mode, and your charge nurse made a poor decision to use you as a warm body. The better option would have been for you to remain with your preceptor.

I can totally understand your pride in feeling like you were being utilized as a licensed staff nurse at the time ... but the situation was inappropriate. Totally not your fault -- but I doubt highlighting this situation will help you.

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.

I think you could also say something along the lines of: "I participated in the triage process of patients under the direct supervision and guidance of my preceptor RN." (Plus, calling triage a "process" rather than a "place" will earn you bonus points.)

Whatever the case, do not leave the impression that you were independently triaging patients.

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Absolutely not, and you should only be observing so that you can ask questions and start learning about triage. Triage is a very serious responsibility with repercussions that affect a patients life.

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