Satisfaction of Patients with Triage and Nursing Practice in Emergency Departments

AIM: This research was carried out to evaluate the satisfaction of triage and nursing practice for emergency patients. METHOD: The sample for this descriptive study comprised 198 patients (115 women and 83 men) that visited the emergency department at an education and research hospital between December 01, 2013, and December 31, 2013, and agreed to participate in the study. The participants had been informed about the purpose, content, and methods of this study. Then, the data collection forms (patient information form, Triage Satisfaction Scale, and Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scale) were administered to the patients. Data analysis involved descriptive statistical methods as well as parametric and nonparametric tests. RESULTS: It was determined that the mean age of the patients in the emergency department was 38.56 ± 17.43 years, and 51.5% (n=102) patients were in the yellow triage category. It was determined that a majority of patients did not wait for triage and indicated that they were receiving treatment in accordance with the triage category. The total Triage Satisfaction Scale mean score was 7.37±2.11 and the total Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scale mean score was 73.34±17.66. It was found that there was a significant difference between the waiting status and satisfaction scores in the triage section of the patients. It was also found that there was a meaningful difference between the dimensions of satisfaction with treatment and care in terms of the triage category. CONCLUSION: It was determined that the patients who applied to the emergency unit were generally satisfied by the triage practice and nursing care. The nursing care satisfaction levels of the patient and their family regarding the health status and psychological support were found to be low. It may be advisable to periodically implement satisfaction analyses of the nursing practices in such units in order to make necessary arrangements and to eliminate deficiencies.