Intended for healthcare professionals
RCNi interactive learning

Practical skills

How to triage patients in the emergency department

Author: Hugh Gorick

Duration: 1 hour Last updated: 2024 Quality Assurance: Peer-reviewed Level: Qualified nurses Language: English

Course description

This practical module will help you understand how to prepare for triage, to familiarise yourself with the steps to take when triaging a patient in the emergency department, and to learn about the scales and algorithms used when triaging patients.


Learning aims and intended outcomes

After completing this module, you should be able to:

  • List the preparation steps and the equipment used in triage.
  • Understand the procedure for carrying out triage.
  • Know when to use algorithms and diagnostic tests in the triage process.
  • Understand the evidence base behind triage procedure.

Syllabus

  • What do you know?
  • Preparation and equipment
  • Procedure
  • Evidence base
  • What have you learned?
  • Reflective practice

Author

HG
Hugh Gorick
Postgraduate researcher, School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, England.

Disclaimer

Please note that information provided by RCNi Learning is not sufficient to ensure competence in the skill. Assessment of competence should take place in line with local practice. Practice should always align with local protocols and procedures, latest guidelines and any regulatory code. All modules should currently be viewed together with available national and local Covid-19 guidelines. For advice, go to www.rcn.org.uk/covid-19

Syllabus

  • What do you know?
  • Preparation and equipment
  • Procedure
  • Evidence base
  • What have you learned?
  • Reflective practice

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