title: Factors influencing patient assignment to level 2 and level 3 within the 5-level ESI triage system.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prospectively assessing factors that influence triage nurse assignment of patients to the higher risk level 2 compared to the lower risk level 3 has not previously been explored within the 5-level Emergency Severity Index (ESI) triage system. Considering the large amount of information available about the patient, less experienced triage nurses often struggle in deciding what patient information is truly relevant when assessing if a high-risk situation exists. The primary aim of this study was to identify specific factors used by triage nurses to differentiate level 2 patients from level 3 patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of triage nurses was recruited from 2 ED sites. If at the completion of the nurse-patient triage interaction the nurse assigned the patient to either level 2 or level 3, the triage nurse then completed a questionnaire related to factors that influenced patient assignment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 18 triage nurses participated in the study with a total of 334 nurse-patient triage interactions collected. Patient age, vital signs, and need for a timely intervention were found to be significant factors that influenced patient assignment to level 2 while expected number of resources influenced patient assignment to level 3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Utilizing experienced triage nurses on average, this study identified specific, objective factors that, combined with factors already delineated in the ESI Version 4 Implementation Manual, have useful implications for less experienced triage nurses by providing a more comprehensive and relevant foundation for data gathering and decision making.
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Roxanne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garbez
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Carrieri-Kohlman
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stotts
authors.forename: Garrett
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neighbor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003657:Decision Making; D016529:Emergency Nursing / Q000379:methods; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014218:Triage / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards