Professional Competencies of Triage Nurses in Selected Government Hospitals in Eastern Pangasinan

Alyssa Ashley  Diego,; Novalyn  Calimlim,

Professional Competencies of Triage Nurses in Selected Government Hospitals in Eastern Pangasinan

Abstract:

The study evaluated emergency room nurses' professional competencies concerning their triage duties. The researchers collected demographic information about the participants and employed a descriptive research method. Data was gathered using survey questionnaires. Various statistical tools were used for analysis, including frequency and percentage, weighted mean (WM), overall weighted mean (OWM), grand overall weighted mean (GOWM), ANOVA, t-test, and Pearson's r coefficient of correlation. The study found that the nurses surveyed were young adults, with an equal number of men and women. All had Bachelor’s degrees, and most worked as staff nurses with an average of four years of experience. They also received sufficient training in emergency nursing. Regarding clinical skills in triage, nurses performed best in health education, safe care, and teamwork. They demonstrated significant challenges in comprehending legal accountability, executing advanced triage decision-making, and applying more comprehensive health assessment. The research showed no significant differences in clinical competencies among the nurses based on their background, except for years of service. Additionally, there were no significant connections between the nurses' professional skills and their background information. This means that a nurse's professional skills in triage do not depend on their demographic details. We propose a program to boost triage competencies among emergency room nurses to improve the identified skill gaps. This program focuses on strengthening key skill areas necessary for practical emergency nursing.

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