TRIAGE FUNDAMENTALS #08: CLINICAL COMPONENTS I - NURSING CONTACT HOURS

Course overview

This course in the Triage Fundamentals series explores chief complaints related to the head, neck, eyes, ears, nose, and throat. Although many of these initial presenting complaints may not seem to need emergency care, some of them are high-risk scenarios warranting prompt attention and further evaluation. Specific chief complaints direct the triage nurse¿s attention to a thought process derived from both knowledge and experience. As more scientific data is collected and researched and medical information continues to expand, what was once a narrow path of thinking has become wider. In this climate, the triage nurse is challenged to make patient assessments with limited time for critical thinking. As rapid triage and direct bedding become the norm, the clock is stingier than ever, often leaving the triage nurse feeling rushed. Learning how to identify key red flags specific to chief complaints assists the triage nurse in more accurate and rapid identification of patients with the potential for demise.