Evaluation of the triage performed by registered nurses in the Hospital Clínico Universitario «Lozano Blesa» Emergency service (Saragossa, Spain).

Objective: To evaluate nurses' triage quality and adequacy in Saragossa's Hospital Clínico and to compare the main characteristics of "urgent" and "non-urgent" visits to the Hospital Emergency Department (HED).

Method: This exploratory-retrospective research study was carried out over the last 3 months of 2015 (paediatrics, gynaecological and ophthalmologic emergencies were excluded). Data were obtained from the "Puesto Clínico Hospitalario" programme used in the HED. The quality of the triage performed by nurses was assessed using the 4 indexes proposed by Gómez Jimenez and the adequacy of patient classification was established by relating the level of triage assigned with the place of care, length of stay in the HED and type of discharge. Differences between "non-urgent" (seen in outpatient consultations of the HED) and "urgent" visits were analysed, RESULTS: 22,047 individuals were included. Quality indices relating to waiting times were not fully met. Higher severity of triage was associated with being attended in the area of Vital and Medical Care, a longer stay in the HED and a higher proportion of hospital admissions (p<.001), so that triage performed by nursing is considered adequate. "Non-urgent" visits obtained less severity of triage, a shorter stay in HED and a greater proportion of hospital discharges (p<.001).

Conclusions: Nursing triage needs to improve quality aspects related to waiting times but is appropriate enough as it discriminates between place of care and type of discharge for each level of triage within the desirable limits.