Abstract:
The purpose of this qualitative research was to describe the experience of trauma triage nurses in a selected Trauma Unit. Sixteen trauma triage nurses were purposively selected to participate in this study. The in-depth interview and documented review were used to collect data. Qualitative data analysis method was used to analyze data. The findings were as follows:
1. The perceptions of triage nurses to triage were described in 2 directions, negative and positive. Most of the negative perceptions were related to internal unit management, working colleges and environment of the unit. Most of the positive perceptions were related to characteristic of triage tasks.
2. For the perceptions of trauma triage guideline and protocol: almost all participants accepted the existing trauma triage guideline and protocol. If any difficult situation was encountered such as patients have unclear sign and symptom, the over triage was used.
3. All participants indicated the important characteristic of triage nurses should contain with knowledge and skill in nursing and triage, and personal characteristic such as leadership, managements ability, decisions ability, and awareness and alert to service mind.
4. The results demonstrated the preparation and developing competencies of triage nurses. The novice triage nurses must pass the preparation program, triage training, shared experience from senior triage nurses, scenario practices, test of knowledge, have coach and consultant at the beginning and they must observe the triage senior nurses performance. The triage nurses also need the continuing and the developing plan, refreshed course, cases conference, and they also have to be alert to develop themselves. The organization should have the monitoring and evaluating system of the triage nurses performances quality continuously, knowledge and skill evaluation, as well as individual monitoring triages performances.
Nurses administration should seriously define duty of triage nurses, reconsider staff pattern and work assignment system, promote the subordinate interpersonal relationship, and develop preparation plan for novice triage nurses and continuing developing plan for triage nurse. The Strategies to develop the utility and feasibility triage guideline and protocol, and researches in personal administration were recommended for further researches.