Implementation of triage protocol for nurses Dissertation

Implementation of triage protocol for nurses - Dissertation Example Assigning degree of urgency to patients based on the health conditions and nature of the disease increases the effectiveness of the treatment, and reduces the time lag between the patient’s visit and treatment. Triage protocols useful in this regard are highly specialized and needs thorough training to the professionals especially, the nurses. For example, pediatric triage protocols include pediatric cough, pediatric vomiting and several other types. Triage services need to be reliable and cost effective for their application in hospitals or private nursing homes. The process starts from the visits of the patients or the calls received from the patients (telephone triage). Correct protocol needs to be identified based on the symptoms as explained by the patients. The patients are asked the relevant questions based on the check-list for confirmation to make the preliminary diagnostic procedure effective to provide the appropriate health care required. This will make the process simpler down the line for treatment and nursing. Nursing triage protocol system in an organization enhances the efficiency level and improves patient health care. The implementation of Triage Protocol in an organization involves establishment of infrastructure required for triage practice including the support services and training to the triage nurses in the triage policies of the organization and the triage procedures to be adopted on day-to-day work in triage practice. Initiating treatment in triage room calls for broader understanding and knowledge about the triage practices for efficiency in performance. Search strategy There are several permutations and combinations involved in deciding the appropriate course of treatment based on the analysis of symptoms. Triage protocols makes it easier since the diagnostic procedures are seamlessly integrated into the treatments required and the timeline. Inclusion and exclusion criteria in diagnostic process with reference to a particular treatment proposed are standardized. Search strategy mainly depends upon the Key Words. The search is conducted on the components for its causal link with the formal problem. This is followed by clinical trials. The validation of the proposed solution, the evidence of its usefulness, criteria for inclusion and exclusion are the important aspects of the search strategy development. For example, Stacey et al (2012) have found in a study â€Å"Acceptability and usability testing of the symptom populated template with 12 practicing oncology nurses revealed: high readability (n=12), just the right amount of information (n=10), appropriate terms (n=10), fit with clinical work flow (n=8), and self-evident for how to complete (n=5).† The important principles governing the template features in respect of clinical nursing protocol are given in Annexure - I. Review of the evidence based literature on triage protocol This paper seeks to provide evidence based literature review on triage protocol covering various aspects related to it. The guidelines issued by the international bodies, articles published in the medical journals and books have been used for the purpose the study. In the Literature Review Grid given under Appendix –III, the study/research type, method used or information available and the results and comments related to the source materials are given for highlighting the reliability of the materials used and its relevance to the study. There are various types of triage scales used in different countries. â€Å"Of note is the Manchester Triage System (MTS) used in the United Kingdom, the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) used in America and the Canadian Emergency Department Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS).† (Monash Institute of Health Services Research, 2001) Triage decisions in respect of nursing are related to emergency care and normal patient care. In a study to assess the workability of triage system in community palliative care, it was found â€Å"