Purpose
This study aimed to comprehensively understand the experiences of emergency nurses performing triage during the peak and plateau periods of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic over the past two years. Methods: Twenty triage nurses from three emergency medical centers were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling. Data collection occurred from February to May 2022 via focus group interviews and was analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: The experiences of emergency nurses in triage revealed four themes: "changes in priorities due to infectious diseases", "barriers to tirage", "the emotional burden experienced by triage nurses", and "the journey toward growth". The pandemic heightened the focus on infection screening in triage. Triage nurses faced numerous challenges concerning their own safety and that of their patients and encountered difficulties in performing triage. Nonetheless, these experiences provided them with opportunities for professional growth. Conclusion: The experiences of nurses performing triage during the peak and plateau periods of the COVID-19 pandemic provide valuable insights for future preparedness and coping strategies in the face of similar infectious disease outbreaks. It is necessary to establish integrated triage guidelines for patient safety, develop operations manuals for triage, implement policies on staffing standards, and provide mental health support for triage nurses during pandemics.

Purpose
The triage process in the emergency department is a complex decision-making task influenced by individual competence and a multitude of factors. Unlike patient-related factors, nurse-related factors can be improved through education. This study sought to determine the impact of grit, self-leadership, and communication skills of emergency department nurses on their triage competency.
Methods
We surveyed a convenience sample of 152 emergency department nurses to evaluate their grit, self-leadership, communication skills, and triage competency. The differences in these skills and competencies were analyzed according to the participants' general characteristics using the independent t-test and one-way analysis of variance. Hierarchical regression analysis was performed to identify the factors influencing nurses' triage competency.
Results
Triage experience, self-leadership, and communication skills influenced triage competency. Although triage competency can be positively impacted by knowledge gained from experience, expert assessment was identified as the least developed category of triage competency.
Conclusion
To improve nurses' triage competency, it is necessary to implement educational programs that utilize various methods to address self-leadership and communication skills. Moreover, reflective methods can be employed to help develop self-leadership, thereby improving triage competency. These findings can contribute to improving the work culture and the development of educational programs. Specifically, these programs should treat nurses' mistakes during work as learning opportunities rather than failures, thereby significantly advancing their competency.

Citations

• The Association Between Self‐Esteem, Assertiveness, and Professional Competence Among Palestinian Newly Graduated Emergency and Critical Care Nurses
  Malakeh Z. Malak, Ahamd Ayed, Anas Shehadeh, Moath Abu Ejheisheh, Ahmad Batran
  International Nursing Review.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Experiences of Emergency Nurses Providing End‐of‐Life Care During the COVID‐19 Pandemic
  Alysha Cowley, Julia Morphet, Kimberley Crawford
  Journal of Advanced Nursing.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between triage competency, nursing task performance, and self-efficacy among nurses working at local emergency departments, and to identify factors that affect triage competency.
Methods
Participants in this descriptive study were 111 nurses working at 20 local emergency departments. Data were collected from August 1 to August 31, 2019, and then analyzed in terms of Independent t-test and one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression by using the SPSS/WIN 21.0 program.
Results
Triage competency was positively correlated with nursing task performance, and self-efficacy was positively correlated with nursing task performance. There were significant predictors of nursing task performance (β=.41, p<.001) and self-efficacy (β=.35, p<.001), thus explaining the 60.4% variance in triage competency.
Conclusion
Nursing task performance was identified as the most significant factor affecting the triage competency of nurses working in emergency departments. Going forward, it is recommended to conduct a follow-up study to confirm the impact of developing a program for increasing triage competency by expanding subjects and scope in terms of regions.

PURPOSE
This study aimed to identify the type and frequency of nursing activities targeting emergency department patients by analyzing electronic nursing records.
METHODS
This retrospective study identified the characteristics of and nursing activities for adult patients who visited a university hospital emergency department for 6 months from January to June 2018 by analyzing the hospital's electronic nursing records. Descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variance were used to analyze the characteristics of patients and the nursing records.
RESULTS
A total of 36,435 patients, with an average age of 52.82±19.91 years and a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.16, participated in the study. The number of patients with Korean Triage and Acuity Scale levels 4 (less urgent) and 5 (non-urgent) were 24,403 (67% of the total number). Referrals were requested 1.21±0.54 times per patient. The most frequent NANDA diagnosis and Nursing Intervention Classification intervention were “Risk for unstable blood glucose level” (858, 28.4%), and “Surveillance” (83,131, 23.9%). The most frequent Clinical Care Classification action type was “Assess or Monitor” (313,729, 38.5%). The higher the severity level and the number of referrals, the more the recorded numbers of nursing diagnoses, interventions, and care activities.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrated the possibility of nursing task analysis by identifying the type and frequency of nursing activities based on the data from electronic nursing records. Further research on electronic nursing records would contribute to the usefulness of these records for nursing workload analysis and effective workforce management.

Citations

• Improving Handover Efficiency for Emergency Nurses
  Seungeun Lee, Heeje Yun, Yukyung Lee, Minji Kang, Eunbi Jo, Sunjong Yoo, I Gyeong Jo, Jung Hwan Heo, Min Jin Choi
  Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration.2024; 30(3): 294.     CrossRef
• An exploratory study of the practical impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nursing tasks in clinical settings
  Younhee Kang, Hyeyoung Hwang
  Applied Nursing Research.2024; 76: 151790.     CrossRef
• Experiences of Recording Electronic Nursing Notes among Ward Nurses in Two Hospitals
  Hyunmi Hwang, Geun-Hee Kim, Yeoungsuk Song
  Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing.2024; 31(4): 396.     CrossRef
• An exploratory study of nursing tasks that induce physical and mental stress among hospital nurses
  Younhee Kang, Aekyeong Jin
  Applied Nursing Research.2024; 80: 151853.     CrossRef
• Experiences of traumatic events, knowledge and attitudes concerning post-traumatic stress disorder, and resilience among nurses and paramedics working in emergency department
  Sun-Woo Hong, Kyung-Sook Bang, Hwal Lan Bang, Hye Jin Hyun, Miyoung Lee, Yu Na Jung
  The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education.2023; 29(1): 86.     CrossRef
• Life‐Sustaining Treatment Decision in Palliative Care Based on Electronic Health Records Analysis
  Sanghee Kim, Arum Lim, Hyoeun Jang, Misun Jeon
  Journal of Clinical Nursing.2023; 32(1-2): 163.     CrossRef
• Use of the clinical care classification in South Korean nursing practice: Challenges and opportunities
  Hyeoun-Ae Park, Insook Cho
  International Journal of Medical Informatics.2023; 170: 104968.     CrossRef
• Effects on Triage Competency Based on Nursing Task Performance and Self-Efficacy of Nurses in Regional Emergency Medical Institutions
  Su Jin Kim, Su Ol Kim
  Korean Journal of Adult Nursing.2022; 34(3): 304.     CrossRef
• An Analysis of Tasks of Nurses Caring for Patients with COVID-19 in a Nationally-Designated Inpatient Treatment Unit
  Minho Jung, Moon-Sook Kim, Joo-Yeon Lee, Kyung Yi Lee, Yeon-Hwan Park
  Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing.2022; 52(4): 391.     CrossRef
• Association Between Symptoms of Patients With Heart Failure and Patient Outcomes Based on Electronic Nursing Records
  Seung Yeon Baik, Gi Wook Ryu, Hyangkyu Lee, Siwook Lee, Mona Choi
  CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing.2021; 39(12): 1027.     CrossRef
• Development of Addiction Prevention Care Program for Nurses
  Sungjae Kim, Se-Jin Joo, Young Ok Song, Jin-Gyung Cha, Jeongwoon Yang
  STRESS.2019; 27(4): 389.     CrossRef