Knowledge and Practice of Nurses on Emergency Triage at Casualty Department of Tikur Anbessa Specialized and St. Paul Referral Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Cross-sectional Survey

Abstract

The hospital emergency department is one of the most important components of health care delivery system. All patients arriving for emergency care needed to be assessed and classified to prioritize those who have the most urgent medical problems and are in need of an immediate   care. There is a consensus that triage is an essential procedure in EDs, and is an effective system for reducing the waiting times and ensuring patents to receive appropriate treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and practice of nurses on emergency triage of TASH and SPH hospitals. Hospital based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. Samples were selected based on working site using purposive sampling technique. The data was collected through structured self-administered questionnaire. Then analyzed, and interpreted by using software. A total of 55 nurses were included, the educational status, 25 (50%) have BSc degree, 21 (42%) have diploma certificate and 4 (8%) have master degree. Of these 20 (40%) had worked in triage room for at least 6 months. The response of nurses 9 (38.4%) were very good knowledge and experience, and similarly, the level of practicing, the average score 31 (57.28) were practicing frequently. The nurses in this study 25 (50%) had bachelor degree and 21 (42%) had diploma certificate, and those who were assigned at triage 20 (40%) had low triage experience, below 6 months. Their triage knowledge and training experience were at low level, 19 (38.2%) and 27 (54%) respectively whereas their triage experience were 31 (57.2%) at moderate level. Therefore, the nursing practice in EDs should include triage activities. Nursing administrators should be concerned to improve the triage skill.

Keywords: Triage, knowledge, practice, education, hospitals, survey

Cite this Article

Solomon Emishaw, Fiseha Girma, Asefu Wolde Tsadik. Knowledge and Practice of Nurses on Emergency Triage at Casualty Department of Tikur Anbessa Specialized and St. Paul Referral Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Cross-sectional Survey. Research and Reviews: Journal of Immunology. 2016; 6(1): 12–20p.