Assess the nature and severity of callers' symptoms quickly and confidently, with Telephone Triage Protocols for Nurses, 6th Edition. More than 200 alpha-organized protocols address a wide range of symptoms, disorders and medical emergencies, while the flow chart format leads callers to provide vital Yes or No answers to appropriate questions. This comprehensive manual - a must-have for nurses both new and experienced - offers accurate care recommendations even when client information is limited. Follow expert direction and make quick, accurate assessments ... NEW and updated protocols offer current best practices and reflect changes in access to medications and health care Protocols address adult, pediatric, geriatric, maternal/child, home health concerns, current health issues, and communicable disease outbreaks NEW protocols include arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), elder abuse, stroke symptoms, and Zika virus Post-operative conditions and considerations have been added to numerous protocols Expanded appendices include altered mental status, PTSD, suicide prevention, and emergency preparedness Alpha-organized protocols help you quickly locate topics by symptom or condition Table of contents by body system helps you quickly locate topics by body system, body part or set of related symptoms Peer-reviewed by nursing experts Easy-to-follow question-asking flow chart - Yes or No answers lead to specific care recommendations Ideal guidance for all nurses, particularly those in triage and ambulatory practice Sorts life-threatening problems from those not requiring physician or emergency care Increases consistency of advice and documentation Nurse Alerts - help the nurse identify potentially life-threatening conditions related to the symptoms and provides additional information to consider when choosing a protocol or triaging the caller's concern Symptoms alpha-organized and grouped by level of urgency, addressing injuries, trauma, pain, swelling and other symptoms for: Body part problems Body system problems Chronic and infectious diseases Behavioral problems Pediatric-specific problems Maternal/obstetric specific problems or conditions Sections under every symptom or condition include: Key Questions to ask caller Other Protocols to Consider Reminder - what to note for proper documentation Assessment - Yes or No questions to determine the urgency of symptoms or conditions Actions - clear direction following Yes or No answers to questions Immediate actions - proven protocols that refer caller to emergency, physician, or at-home care instructions Home Care Instructions - comprehensive actions to take before emergency care, before appointment, or at-home care Emergency Instructions - in-the-moment first aid Report the Following Problems - what caller should tell their personal or ER physician Seek Emergency Care Immediately - if certain symptoms occur Reminder to determine if caller agrees with the advice provided and if not, reevaluate Must-have resource for medical offices, clinics, schools, community referrals, emergency departments, urgent care centers, home health agencies and managed healthcare providers About the Author Julie Briggs, RN, BSN, MHA, has an extensive background in Emergency Nursing, Management, Telephone Triage, Emergency Preparedness, Utilization Review and Quality Management. She is currently providing consulting and training services. She has been employed by Providence Health and Services in Portland, Oregon for the past 15 years in the capacity of Medical Management RN Care Coordinator and as the Manager of the Emergency Department at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center. Additionally, she served in the role of Director for multiple units including the Emergency Department, Critical Care, Cardiac Cath Lab, Ambulatory Care, and Radiology for 13 years at Good Samaritan Medical Center in Puyallup, Washington. She has authored numerous books in Telephone Triage, Emergency Nursing Triage, and Homemaker/Home Health Aide Training.

Provide optimal, evidence-based triage assessment, advice, and protocols, with Triage Protocols for Aging Adults . The 190 evidence-based protocols offered here address a wide range of symptoms, disorders, and emergencies affecting those 50 and older. Flip quickly to the right symptom and ask the questions listed there to determine whether the individual requires emergency, same-day, or home care. Whether you are in family practice or are a triage nurse working at a hospital, urgent care center, or insurance company, this is the go-to reference to keep by your side. Advance your evidence-based triage skills and protocols with: Easy-to-follow f lowchart format that leads you from yes-or-no questions to assessment, recommendations, and clear instructions 190 protocols that cover the most common conditions faced by aging adults—all body systems, plus weakness, falls, loss of memory, poor appetite, medication interaction problems, and more Alpha-organized table of contents that helps you locate symptoms quickly Contents also organized by body system for quick-find protocols Protocols that have symptom-based titles and address issues affecting all body systems, such as abdominal pain and swelling, alcohol problems, allergic reactions, altered mental status, asthma, earache, elder abuse, joint pain/swelling, and more All protocols reviewed by a team of nursing experts Action column of each protocol that presents emergency actions first Coverage of the legal aspects of triage Tools and sample forms – telephone triage protocol form, triage documentation form, triage log, skills assessment, call documentation review, and teaching self-assessment guide Chapter features include: Key Questions – name, age, onset, medications, pain scale, associated symptoms, and history Other Protocols to Consider – lists related protocols and their page numbers Health Alert – additional information to consider when choosing a protocol, with additional resources listed Assessment Questions and Actions – with specific actions under each yes-or-no answer Home Care Instructions – detailed instructions sections that explain care to be given before emergency help arrives, while waiting for an appointment, or for ongoing home care Report the Following Problems to Your PCP/Clinic/ED – symptoms or conditions that should be reported to their usual healthcare provider Seek Emergency Care Immediately if Any of the Following Occur – symptoms or conditions that require emergency care Your book purchase includes a complimentary download of the enhanced eBook for iOS™, Android™, PC, and Mac. Take advantage of these practical features that will improve your eBook experience: The ability to download the eBook on multiple devices at one time—providing a seamless reading experience online or offline Powerful search tools and smart navigation cross-links that allow you to search within this book, or across your entire library of VitalSource eBooks Multiple viewing options that enable you to scale images and text to any size without losing page clarity as well as responsive design The ability to highlight text and add notes with one click

This critical-thinking blueprint for the triage nurse delivers essential knowledge for accurate decision-making in emergency triage situations. Formatted to provide easily accessible and retrievable information, the manual facilitates rapid recognition and understanding of acuity levels and their application to patient care. The newly updated second edition reflects current health conditions and scenarios in EDs, urgent care centers, offices, and first aid centers, both domestic and international. It contains important new information on program development, training, and quality management along with useful tips and tools. Completely new protocols, additional case studies, and quality management guidelines and tools further add to the merit of the second edition.The resource addresses a wide range of both adult and pediatric conditions that are system-based and listed in alphabetical order. Each protocol has been developed to ensure accuracy and consistency, regardless of which 5-tier triage system is in use. Abundant case studies and multiple appendices provide additional information to support the protocols, broadening the nurse's scope of knowledge and prompting in-depth examination of potentially lethal conditions. Additionally, appendices contain valuable training materials for program development, training, and quality management tips and tools. New to the Second Edition: Updated protocols reflecting current health conditions/situations in EDs, urgent care centers, offices, and first aid centers Important new information on program development, training, and quality management tips and tools Additional material including mass casualty, exposure (biological, chemical, disease), military care, infections (isolation concerns), behavioral issues (violence), and narcotic overdose New case studies Developing a triage program Quality management guidelines and tools Key Features: Facilitates consistency in triage decisions among different nurses Uses health care resources appropriately and efficiently Sets minimum expectations for triage decisions Guides nurses in asking the right questions, determining how soon the patient must be seen, and interventions to consider Serves as a valuable reference for both new and experienced nurses Serves as a training tool in orientation