Challenges and Knowledge of Nurses Regarding Triage Systems in Emergency Departments

The term "triage" is derived from the French word meaning "to sort" and refers to the act of prioritising patients in emergency care based on the seriousness of the illness or injury presented; it is how one would classify patients according to the urgency of need in order to provide resource allocation and make priorities. The skills and competencies of triage nurses are very important to ensure that high-quality care is provided and that operations within the emergency departments are effective. This study aimed to evaluate nurses’ knowledge of triage systems in emergency departments (EDs) and identify the challenges associated with their implementation. Methods: A descriptive correlational study was conducted using a non-probability sample of 230 nurses from governmental hospitals. A structured questionnaire was developed and validated to collect data. The questionnaire consisted of three parts: demographic information; 13 items assessing triage knowledge scored on a binary scale; and 13 items evaluating challenges to triage implementation. Results: 68.7% of nurses reported prior training in triage systems. Overall, nurses demonstrated moderate knowledge of triage. Challenges to implementing triage systems were rated high. There is a significant correlation between nurses’ knowledge and their age. Conclusion: Nurses in EDs have moderate knowledge of triage systems; about 50% of them have good knowledge, but there are significant barriers to effective implementation.