A nurse working in the emergency department (ED) decides which cubicles to place patients in to be seen by the health care provider. The nurse talks with one patient about the fall he sustained from his motorcycle and whether he is able to move all four extremities independently. What part of the role of the emergency department nurse is this nurse fulfilling?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This nurse is fulfilling the role of triage, which involves prioritizing patients based on the severity of their condition and directing them to appropriate areas of care within the ED. In this case, the nurse is determining the urgency of the patient's need for care by assessing his ability to move all four extremities independently, which can indicate a potentially serious injury. This information will help the nurse determine which cubicle the patient should be placed in, so that he can be seen by a health care provider as quickly as possible. Referral to hospital-identified policies and procedures and following physician orders for admitting a patient are also important roles of the ED nurse, but they are not demonstrated in this scenario. Following evidence-based practice is important for all nurses, regardless of their specialty or practice setting, but it is not a specific role of the ED nurse in this situation.

A Nurse Working in the Emergency Department (ED) Decides Which