EXPLORING NURSES' AWARENESS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TRIAGE SYSTEM

Abstract

Background: Triage is a critical process in emergency care that ensures prioritization of patients based on clinical urgency; however, gaps in nurses’ awareness and implementation may affect patient outcomes.

Objective: To assess nurses’ awareness and implementation of the triage system at a tertiary care hospital in Punjab, Pakistan.

Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 204 nurses using purposive sampling. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS v25.

Results: The mean knowledge score was 6.56±2.31, with 46.1% demonstrating high knowledge and 48.0% moderate knowledge. The mean practice score was 9.98±2.10, with 40.2% showing high and 48.0% moderate practice levels. Misconceptions were noted, including incorrect understanding of AVPU (68.7%) and triage timing (87.1%).

Conclusion: Nurses exhibited adequate knowledge and moderate-to-good triage practices; however, gaps between knowledge and implementation highlight the need for continuous training.