FOREWORD
FOREWORD
In 2005 – 06, nearly 4.8 million people presented to emergency departments in larger Australian hospitals. Only 12 per cent were non-urgent cases. Sixty nine per cent of people were seen within the time recommended for their triage category, with half of this number seen in less than 24 minutes.
Despite the pressure on triage staff working, the figures show that they mostly get it right. Providing accurate and timely assessments of seriously ill patients, based on urgency, is what makes the triage system work.
A clinically based system of triaging ensures that patients needing priority medical care get it. The Emergency Triage Education Kit aims to provide further support to Triage Nurses. This revised edition includes more than 150 scenarios designed to strengthen Triage Nurses’ assessment skills. It also covers complex areas such as mental health, paediatrics, obstetrics and rural / remote triage. It aims to help nurses provide better assistance to people presenting to emergency departments.
The kit was funded by the Commonwealth Government and developed in collaboration with the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine, the Australasian College of Emergency Nursing, the College of Emergency Nursing Australasia and the Council of Remote Area Nurses of Australia.
V
Tony Abbott MP Minister for Health and Ageing
Department of Health and Ageing – Emergency Triage Education Kit