OK. Well we used to have one RN doing triage. Now we have two....sometimes 2 RN's sometimes an RN and an LVN. Technically, the RN at the window takes basic data, name, dob, pmd, allergies, and Chief Complaint. Then assigns a triage priority (1-5) puts a chart together and gives it to the nurse in the back. The nurse in the back is called a data collector to get past the sometimes LVN in that assignment. So the back nurse does vitals, asks PMH, surgical history, ht/wt/smoking history, etc. Then either rooms the patient or puts them in the lobby to wait for a room.
Our thing is that an RN and only an RN must remain at that window 24/7. We are busy and understaffed and sometimes we hardly get pee breaks!!!
I have seen other ER's where a registration clerk is at the window and you sign in with your complaint. No RN?
Does anyone know about this? It is frustrating me to no end! I believe they said its a DHS thing?
Our management is not so great though so who knows!
Agree but -- we don't know what the rationale was, and we don't know what conversation led the administration of that particular hospital to interpret JCAHO requirements as requiring implementation of a change in the triage process at that particular moment.
JCAHO came in, as I previously posted, and made the change immediately - to have a medical person right at the window. It might've been the way the lobby and registration area were set up to necessitate that change. Who knows.
MassED, BSN, RN
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