Sjuksköterskors uppfattning om triagebedömning på en barnakutmottagning
Triage, which means "to sort", determine the priority of the patients need of care. The aim of the present study was to describe nurses? perception of triage at a pediatric emergency department. A questionnaire with open- and closed-ended questions were distributed to all 25 nurses that worked at a pediatric emergency department. The answer frequency was 48 % (n=12). Open-ended questions were analyzed by qualitative content analysis and the closed-ended questions with descriptive statistics after which statistical correlations and differences were calculated. The nurses? perception of triage was that this first assessment and prioritization of the patients? need of care increased safety and control and that to refer patients to another level of care may reduce the waiting time however, were time consuming for the nurse. The perception of interception factors for referring patients to another level of care were lack of availability and negative reactions from parents and patients. To perform triage and at the same time be responsible for other patients was perceived as a difficult. As a support in the performance of triage a triage-system, easy to interpret, was needed. Any significant differences or association could not be detected regarding level of education or work experiences. The nurses perceived that a correct triage gave the patient correct care at right level.