i have a chance to triage...

Published

right now i work float pool, and we are required to float to the ER. The manager approached me (she's a colleague of my DH) and asked if i wanted to pick up some extra shifts doing triage. I told her i'd love to do it, but looking at her schedule, i think i definitely need to be oriented a few days first. Part of the reason i'm float pool is that i can usually walk into any area and work reasonably well, so i'm wondering how much orientation should i ask for to learn to triage? Any thoughts? ER has always been my goal, so i'm excited at the prospect!!

Specializes in emergency nursing-ENPC, CATN, CEN.
Triage can be fun and challenging to work at

Triage can give you all sorts of unique experiences

Triage can improve your assessment skills to the 10th degree

Triage can improve and challenge your interpersonal skills

Triage can improve your care of those linguistically challenged

But overall triage makes you see how stupid humans are, you will hear some of the stupidest statements, you will talk to some of the stupidest people, you will talk to some of the meanest and nastiest and most verbally abusive and even physically threatening patients. You will see things your mama never wanted you to see.

All triages should come equipped with a built in Police officer armed with AK 47

and pepper spray and a Taser gun also.

But deep deep deep down, I really love triage

Me too- (a big mean ole nasty looking dog with a muzzle hanging off sitting next to me at triage would work well too...:chuckle

Anne

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Triage can be fun and challenging to work at

Triage can give you all sorts of unique experiences

Triage can improve your assessment skills to the 10th degree

Triage can improve and challenge your interpersonal skills

Triage can improve your care of those linguistically challenged

But overall triage makes you see how stupid humans are, you will hear some of the stupidest statements, you will talk to some of the stupidest people, you will talk to some of the meanest and nastiest and most verbally abusive and even physically threatening patients. You will see things your mama never wanted you to see.

All triages should come equipped with a built in Police officer armed with AK 47

and pepper spray and a Taser gun also.

But deep deep deep down, I really love triage

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: OMG so funny!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Our staff has to have spent 6 months in the ED as a full time RN. You dont need to pass an ACLS, PALS, etc test to be able to triage as you wont be coding people out there. You do however, need the assessment skills and questions for the pts so you appropriately sort them into the correct order and get them in for their MSE.

right now i work float pool, and we are required to float to the ER. The manager approached me (she's a colleague of my DH) and asked if i wanted to pick up some extra shifts doing triage. I told her i'd love to do it, but looking at her schedule, i think i definitely need to be oriented a few days first. Part of the reason i'm float pool is that i can usually walk into any area and work reasonably well, so i'm wondering how much orientation should i ask for to learn to triage? Any thoughts? ER has always been my goal, so i'm excited at the prospect!!
Up Vote Up Vote ×

All triages should come equipped with a built in Police officer armed with AK 47

and pepper spray and a Taser gun also.

But deep deep deep down, I really love triage

As a nursing student I just really have to say I admire you triage and ER nurses so much! I was in the ER awhile back with stomach flu, and in front of me as a homeless man who clearly had infected arms, maybe from shooting up. I just noticed how kindly the ER triage nurse was treating that man, and she looked like she really cared for him and was talking to him a lot more than most people would. There was just something about her that really showed she cared. And then of course when my turn in line came she didn't even wince when I clearly had a bad case of rotavirus and was dehydrated. I wouldn't have touched someone like me with a 10 ft pole! :rotfl:

Rebecca

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I personally believe that given the right person with right skillset and right background and orientation/training, that they can do this job effectively. I think a lot of hospitals ask for a bit too much as stated by some of the previous requirements.

I've done the med/surg, LTC, cardiac rehab, post op cardiac care and pediatrics. Need something new and different to challange me. Won't know til i try it! :rotfl:

OOOhh you're scarey! It sounds easy until you're informed that the young boy complaining of pain to his "pee-pee" that you sent over to the waiting area was actually a testicular torsion that had to go to OR. And the parents are po'd he had to wait 3 hrs just to get into the ED. Or on the other hand, you bring back the hysterical woman complaining of chest pain that started when she was arguing with her boyfriend.

Are you aware of EMTALA rules/fines? Triage is not for the non-er nurse. I work at a small 125 bed hospital where the ER is the only one around for miles and very busy. Yet we have RN's that have been there 1-2yrs gaining ER experience and then they can take the triage course. We have seasoned nurses that dread being assigned to triage just because of the chaos, 4+ theatrics, etc. that goes on there. Don't play games with your license by "trying out" triage.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
OOOhh you're scarey! It sounds easy until you're informed that the young boy complaining of pain to his "pee-pee" that you sent over to the waiting area was actually a testicular torsion that had to go to OR. And the parents are po'd he had to wait 3 hrs just to get into the ED. Or on the other hand, you bring back the hysterical woman complaining of chest pain that started when she was arguing with her boyfriend.

Are you aware of EMTALA rules/fines? Triage is not for the non-er nurse. I work at a small 125 bed hospital where the ER is the only one around for miles and very busy. Yet we have RN's that have been there 1-2yrs gaining ER experience and then they can take the triage course. We have seasoned nurses that dread being assigned to triage just because of the chaos, 4+ theatrics, etc. that goes on there. Don't play games with your license by "trying out" triage.

I am SO not scarey. I know my limitations, i know my skills and i would NEVER endanger or jeapordize anyone or myself "playing games". I do however resent the implication that that's what i would be doing. let me reiterate that i've worked in ER before, but there was never a position available for me so i always picked up what i could when they needed me. Now i'm a float pool nurse and part of my TRAINING and EXPECTATIONS are that i can walk into any area including the ER and be able to work effectively and function well. I've never heard of a "triage" course, and if i did i would be inclined to take it. I love challenges, i love patients and patient care of any kind, and the small stuff doesn't bother me. i also have a pretty good gut instinct when things are going on with patients, so i feel that i would be an asset to any ER, triage or otherwise. And just because other nurses don't like it, or are "afraid" of it, doesn't mean i should not try it.

I don't like neuro. Head cases scare the $@ out of me. But I'll do it if need be and learn every day and make the best out of an unwanted situation.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I am SO not scarey. I know my limitations, i know my skills and i would NEVER endanger or jeapordize anyone or myself "playing games". I do however resent the implication that that's what i would be doing. let me reiterate that i've worked in ER before, but there was never a position available for me so i always picked up what i could when they needed me. Now i'm a float pool nurse and part of my TRAINING and EXPECTATIONS are that i can walk into any area including the ER and be able to work effectively and function well. I've never heard of a "triage" course, and if i did i would be inclined to take it. I love challenges, i love patients and patient care of any kind, and the small stuff doesn't bother me. i also have a pretty good gut instinct when things are going on with patients, so i feel that i would be an asset to any ER, triage or otherwise. And just because other nurses don't like it, or are "afraid" of it, doesn't mean i should not try it.

I don't like neuro. Head cases scare the $@ out of me. But I'll do it if need be and learn every day and make the best out of an unwanted situation.

Wow...I'm surprised a float pool nurse is even asked to try out triage. At least in our hospital, if you're not a "dedicated" ER nurse with all the credentials, then the only other person they would put there is an agency nurse that has already worked in our unit and knows the triage policy's as well as having the needed credentials like acls, tncc, pals. But if you think you've got what it takes and the hospital will back you.....go for it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think a HUGE problem with hospital administration is their belief that "a nurse is a nurse is a nurse". This is evident in such practices as putting any nurse in any situation and expecting her to be competent in that area. They pull ICU nurses to us and they can't even splint a finger, let alone care for more than 2 patients at once. However, give them a really critical pt, and they shine like they ought to! Don't let your bosses trick you into thinking they are confident in you (although they might also be...), you are a license with a pen. I am sure you would be excellent at ED nursing one day, but you need to work fulltime in the department for sometime to get there. The thought of mistriaging a sick child alone should scare you and your bosses out of such practices. Just by posting this question alone, you probably realize the potential for harm-which is a good thing. Good luck!

I am SO not scarey. I know my limitations, i know my skills and i would NEVER endanger or jeapordize anyone or myself "playing games". I do however resent the implication that that's what i would be doing. let me reiterate that i've worked in ER before, but there was never a position available for me so i always picked up what i could when they needed me. Now i'm a float pool nurse and part of my TRAINING and EXPECTATIONS are that i can walk into any area including the ER and be able to work effectively and function well. I've never heard of a "triage" course, and if i did i would be inclined to take it. I love challenges, i love patients and patient care of any kind, and the small stuff doesn't bother me. i also have a pretty good gut instinct when things are going on with patients, so i feel that i would be an asset to any ER, triage or otherwise. And just because other nurses don't like it, or are "afraid" of it, doesn't mean i should not try it.

I don't like neuro. Head cases scare the $@ out of me. But I'll do it if need be and learn every day and make the best out of an unwanted situation.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

a fantastic triage course is offerred by "Triage First " .

search online.

a company with good hearts, great skills and positive learning!

Even as an ERer RN w/22 years and an love for triage, I came away inspired!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I absolutely LOVE being in triage. Even seeing 100+ patients/day BY YOURSELF. It's rough but I love it. I guess it takes a special person, lol. I wouldn't go out to triage before being an ER nurse for at least a year...at that facility. Most of it goes by gut instint, dont ya'll think?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
I absolutely LOVE being in triage. Even seeing 100+ patients/day BY YOURSELF. It's rough but I love it. I guess it takes a special person, lol. I wouldn't go out to triage before being an ER nurse for at least a year...at that facility. Most of it goes by gut instint, dont ya'll think?

Nowadays it always goes by established Protocols and any variance from established protocols leaves you open to complaints.

Knowledge, experience, wisdom, all go out the window nowadays as it is now all protocols.

I have 35 yo come with chest pain I know they have bronchitis or such, but they all get monitor, ekg, o2, Large bore IV, LABS the full work up. Doesnt matter if they are just an URI. Any deviation from protocols leaves you open to complaints and censoring

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Nowadays it always goes by established Protocols and any variance from established protocols leaves you open to complaints.

Knowledge, experience, wisdom, all go out the window nowadays as it is now all protocols.

I have 35 yo come with chest pain I know they have bronchitis or such, but they all get monitor, ekg, o2, Large bore IV, LABS the full work up. Doesnt matter if they are just an URI. Any deviation from protocols leaves you open to complaints and censoring

That is sooooo true!

It's because we practice medicine now according to litigation rules.

Everything is way messed up.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion