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. 1993 Sep;10(3):220–228. doi: 10.1136/emj.10.3.220

Nurse triage in theory and in practice.

S George 1, S Read 1, L Westlake 1, B Williams 1, P Pritty 1, A Fraser-Moodie 1
PMCID: PMC1285993  PMID: 8216599

Abstract

'Nurse Triage' refers to the formal process of early assessment of patients attending an accident and emergency (A&E) department by a trained nurse, to ensure that they receive appropriate attention, in a suitable location, with the requisite degree of urgency. The benefits claimed for nurse triage include better patient outcomes, through clinical management reaching those in greatest need of it first. A recent study of nurse triage in a British A&E department failed to demonstrate the benefits claimed: patients undergoing triage were delayed, especially those in the most urgent groups. No differences were noted between the two study groups in levels of satisfaction with the A&E process. The results brought forth criticism from all quarters. In this paper the points made by the critics are considered, and an attempt to answer them is made.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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