Assessment of Knowledge and Skills of Triaging and Associated Factors

Triage is an essential function in emergency department. As there are increased numbers of clients with life threatening traumatic injuries and non-traumatic cases in the emergency department in Ethiopia, triage skill and knowledge is an essential competency required for the nurses working in emergency department. Triage nurses’ knowledge has been cited as an influential factor in triage decision-making, however there have been no study in Addis Ababa hospitals undertaken to assess the knowledge and skills of triage among nurses working in the emergency departments. This study therefore aimed at assessing knowledge and skills of triage among nurses working in the emergency departments in Addis Ababa government hospitals. To assess the level of triaging skills and knowledge possessed by emergency nurse and associated factors at government hospitals in Addis Ababa from October 2015 to June 2016. This finding suggests there is high inadequacy of training and low knowledge among nurses working in emergency department. Hence they need continuing education and training in order to improve their triage skill and triage knowledge.