Date of Graduation

Winter 12-15-2023

Document Access

Project/Capstone - Global access

Degree Name

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

College/School

School of Nursing and Health Professions

Program

MSN project

First Advisor

Sierra Dias McEvoy, MSN, RN, CEN, CNL

Abstract

Problem: Hospital Z’s emergency department was experiencing a triage inaccuracy rate that exceeded the accepted national benchmark of 10%. This quality improvement project aimed to reduce triage inaccuracy to less than 10% in the emergency department at Hospital Z, through improved education and availability of supplemental reference materials.

Context: This quality improvement project was conducted in a 40 bed emergency department at Hospital Z. This microsystem serves a diverse patient population from the surrounding community that experience a variety of conditions requiring emergency medical intervention.

Interventions: Clinical Nurse Leader nursing students partnered with unit leadership to create a new ESI triage refresher education course and supplemental reference materials, including a badge buddy and a poster.

Measures: Initial rates of mistriage were determined through a randomized audit of 400 patient charts over the span of four months, determining a mistriage rate of 23%. Information was also collected through the distribution of pre and post-intervention surveys, providing an understanding of staff confidence in individual and department performance.

Results: A second randomized audit of 400 charts was performed over the span of four weeks following the implementation of interventions, resulting in a 12.5% improvement in triage accuracy. A post-intervention survey documented increased staff confidence in individual and department triage accuracy.

Conclusion: This project was successful due to a reduced mistriage rate of 10.5%, observed after the implementation of an ESI educational refresher course and supplemental reference materials.

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