title: The Emergency Severity Index 5-level triage system.
abstract: The Emergency Severity Index triage system is a relatively new 5-level mode of operations created in the late 1990s. This system provides an operational model to meet the needs of all patients. This triage process segregates patients into 5 different treatment levels based on a variety of characteristics. This article discusses the Emergency Severity Index, how it works, its advantages and disadvantages, and implications for emergency department nurses.
authors.affiliation: Virginia Hospital Center, Emergency Department, in Arlington, USA. rachelrileyrn@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shelton
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease / Q000145:classification / Q000628:therapy; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D004630:Emergencies / Q000145:classification* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing; D016529:Emergency Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D040841:Resource Allocation / Q000458:organization & administration; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D014218:Triage / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology