I am hoping someone might know of some data that states the maximum amount of time a patient should wait to be triaged or at least be assigned an ESI (not fully assessed) by an RN upon initial presentation to the ED.
Has anyone worked in a system where a tech or an LPN sits at the triage desk with a registration personnel? The tech/LPN decides if the person checking in should see the triage nurse immediately or if the patient can wait. The triage nurses see the patient on a first-come/first-serve basis otherwise. In other words, all chest pains (regardless of nature) are seen immediately, where a belly pain may wait for some time. What can obviously happen is that an acute ABD waits WAY too long and a CCC gets immediate help. Subtlties can be missed by less experienced personnel. The patient, if determined not urgent by the tech/LPN, might wait hours to be triaged. Any thoughts? Any clinical practice guidelines that you all are aware of?
Can we discuss how you all have managed triage concerns creatively?
Really weird... I came to work today only to be told that the triage nurse will now triage all patients at the bedside. That is until we are full and then I will triage in the triage office. There will be a tech at registration to alert me to any true emergencies. However the tech that is doing this today expresses his concerns, what if he misses something? Can the patient then sue him? All questions that I don't have the answer to.
LilGirl - this is what my facility calls "immediate bedding"...except, the triage nurse doesn't triage at the bedside, the primary nurse receiving the patient does. Our triage tech takes the patient to the room. Hooks them up to the monitor/starts VS. If not needed back at triage, they may start an EKG or a line or something. If triage is busy, then it's right back out front. The nurse should remain at triage. We cannot immediate bed patients if the section in which the patient is to go to does not have an available provider/nurse to see the patient immediately. ie: nurse with a level 1 patient or nurse unavailable since they're in ICU transporting a patient.
whatdayoftheweekisit
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LilGirl - this is what my facility calls "immediate bedding"...except, the triage nurse doesn't triage at the bedside, the primary nurse receiving the patient does. Our triage tech takes the patient to the room. Hooks them up to the monitor/starts VS. If not needed back at triage, they may start an EKG or a line or something. If triage is busy, then it's right back out front. The nurse should remain at triage. We cannot immediate bed patients if the section in which the patient is to go to does not have an available provider/nurse to see the patient immediately. ie: nurse with a level 1 patient or nurse unavailable since they're in ICU transporting a patient.