ESI and triage Flashcards
The first question a nurse would ask, in which a patient would be triaged as a ESI level 1 if the answer is yes, is…
is the patient dying?
a no would move on to the next step in the algorithm
ESI level 1 patients usually account for __-__% of ED patients
1 - 3%
Name some examples of an ESI level 1 patient
11
Severe respiratory distress
Overdose with respirations <6
Severe bradycardia/tachycardia with hypotension
Traumatic injury with hypotension
Anaphylactic reaction
Hypoglycemia with change in mental status
Chest pain, diaphoretic, with hypotension
Baby that is flaccid
Cardiac arrest
Respiratory arrest
Emergency Bipap
The second question that the nurse should ask him/herself when triaging a patient is what?
What are three other questions that support this question?
Can the patient wait?
- Is the situation high risk?
- Is the patient confused lethargic, or disoriented?
- Is the patient in severe pain or distress?
ESI level 2 patients make up about __-__% of the ED patient population.
20-30%
Name some examples of triage level 2 patients
(24)
I know, I know, it’s a lot
don’t worry, they’re broken down into individual cards later :)
- Chest pain, suspicious of coronary syndrome, with stable vitals
- Healthcare worker with a needlestick
- Signs of a stroke
- R/O ectopic pregnancy
- Fever in the immunocompromised
- Suicidal or homicidal patient
- Change in mental status
- Testicular torsion
- Spontaneous pneumothorax with elevated RR rate
- Seizure
- Patient in severe pain
- Hypertensive crisis
- Peritonsillar abscess
- Inhalation injury with airway compromise
- Hypo/Hyperglycemia
- Sepsis
- Syncope
- Urinary retention
- Sudden change or loss in vision
- Chemical splash to eyes
- Hip / extremity dislocation
- Pelvic /Femur fracture
- Infant > 28 days with a fever
- Accidental/intentional ingestion
If the patient isn’t dying and can wait, what is the third question a nurse should ask him or herself about the patient?
What are three possible answers to the question?
How many resources will the patient need?
- none
- one
- many
Name some ED services that are considered resources.
10
Labs EKG X-ray CT MRI Ultrasound IV, IM, or nebulized medications Specialty consultations Simple procedure = 1 resource (lac repair, Foley cath) Complex procedure = 2 resources (conscious sedation)
After coming to the third question (ESI level 3), name a factor that might make a nurse change their decision to a level 2?
Abnormal vital signs.
The presence of abnormal vital signs may not be enough to upgrade, as it is how meaningful to the patients condition they are.
What are some examples of ESI level 3 Horizontal patients
9
- abdominal pain
- HA/ Migraine
- Flank pain
- Vaginal bleeding with stable VS
- Painful, swollen lower leg pain with no trauma, R/O DVT
- Fractured hip
- Asthma with mild wheezing
- N/V/D
- Fractured, dislocated wrist
What are some examples of ESI level 3 Vertical patients?
6
- Nausea, no vomiting
- Cellulitis
- Low back pain
- Fall that is ambulatory
- MVA that is ambulatory
- Bronchitis
Any infant less than 28 days old that presents with a fever in considered ____ until proven otherwise and should be an ESI level __
septic
2
Any patient known to be pregnant who presents with edema and BP above 150/100 should be considered as ____ and triaged at a priority __
2
pre-eclamptic
If a patient with a head injury presents with neck pain, a blow to the head or chest, and sudden acceleration/deceleration must be considered a C-spine injury until what?
What should be done immediately?
cleared by a physician
C spine precautions should be taken immediatly
All patients less than 12 years of age must be ____, included with vital signs.
weighed
All patients with an eye injury need what?
visual acuity
Priority 2 eye injuries include
3
- sudden pain or loss of vision
- direct blow to the eye with difficulty moving the eye in all directions
- chemicals splashed into the eye
Children and adults who have lost a permanent tooth need to be triaged as a priority __
2
there is a narrow window of opportunity for reimplantation
Bleeding as a post-op complication from a tosilectomy or a tooth extraction needs to be triaged as a priority __
2
Any unstable fracture, deformity, or open fracture should be splinted prior to what?
what are three other things you should do?
going to x-ray
- remember to splint the limb as you find it
- check for pulse and circulation after splinting
- apply ice
What should you tell a person seeking medical advise through a telephone call?
It is Inspira policy to instruct patients to either come to the ED or contact their personal physician.
What should you tell a person who calls in requesting an ambulance?
instruct them to dial 9-1-1
Remove ____ distal to all injuries.
jewelry
what are the four triage questions?
- is the patient dying?
- is this a patient who shouldn’t wait?
- how many resources will this patient need?
- what are the patients vital signs?
The first question; is the patient dying?
If the answer is yes then what?
What are two other questions to help you decide?
question 1 (3)
question 2 (8)
ESI 1 1 Does the patient require an -immediate airway -medication -other hemodynamic intervention 2 Does the patient meet any of the following criteria; - already intubated - apneic - pulseless - severe respiratory distress spO2<90% - acute mental status change - unresponsive
The key difference between ESI level 1 and 2 is what?
immediate physician involvement
ESI level __ patients are seriously ill, but the emergency care nurse can initiate care through standing orders without a physician at bedside.
2
the patient needs rapid interventions but will not deteriorate immediately
Name some examples of ESI level 1 patients
16
- cardiac arrest
- respiratory arrest
- severe respiratory distress
- spO2 <90%
- unresponsive trauma
- overdose with a respiratory rate <10
- agonal or gasping respirations
- severe bradycardia or tachycardia with s/s of hypoperfusion
- hypotension with s/s of hypoperfusion
- trauma patients who require fluid resusitation
- chest pain with weak and dizzyness, hypotensive
- anaphylactic reaction
- baby that is flacid
- unresponsive with odor of alcohol
- hypoglycemia with altered mental status
after deciding that the patient does not meet the criteria for ESI level 1, what is the question that the nurse moves on to?
can the patient wait?
What is the criteria for ESI level 2?
If the patient does not meet the criteria for ESI 1, but should not wait
What are the three broad questions to ask to determine if the patient meets the criteria for ESI level 2?
- Is this a high level situation?
- Is the patient confused, lethargic, or disoriented?
- Is the patient in severe pain or distress?
True or false
High risk patients do not require a detailed physical assessment or even a full set of vitals
true
An ESI level 2 patient must remain a high priority with assessment and treatment initiated within __ minutes of arrival
10
what are some examples of an ESI level 2 patient?
6
- active chest pain, suspicious for coronary syndrome, not requiring an immediate life saving intervention, with stable vital signs
- needlestick in a healthcare worker
- signs of a stroke not meeting level 1 criteria
- rule-out ectopic pregnancy, hemodynamically stable
- a patient on chemotherapy with a fever (immunocompromised)
- suicidal or homocidal patient
When determining if a patient is confused, lethargic, or disoriented, what are two things to consider?
- Is this an acute change in level of consciousness?
- patients with a baseline of confusion do not meet level 2 criteria.
describe confused
inappropriate response to stimuli, decrease in attention span and memory
describe Lethargic
drowsy, sleeping more than usual, responds appropriately when stimulated
describe disoriented
the patient is unable to answer questions correctly about time, place, or person
name three examples of a patient who is confused, lethargic, or disoriented, and give an example of underlying cause
- New onset of confusion in an elderly patient
- A three month old whose mother reports the child is sleeping all of the time
- an adolecent that is found confused and disoriented
- The brain may be structureally or chemically compromised
although it is a deciding factor, an ESI level of 2 does not have to be assigned on ____ alone
pain
what are three things to consider when assessing pain severity?
- certain pain locations are more likely to predict life-threatening conditions
- severe pain may predict a more dangerous problem and require more timely pain control and definitive interventions
- acute pain is more likely to be dangerous than chronic or recurrent pain
Once determined that a patient does not meet the criteria for an ESI of 1 or 2, what is the next question to move on to?
How many resources will be needed in order for a physician to reach a disposition decision?
admit
discharge
transfer
Name some examples of services that are considered resources.
(9)
- Labs (any combination = 1 resource)
- EKG
- x-ray
- CT, MRI, US,
- IV fluid
- IV, IM, or nebulized medications
- specialty consultation
- Simple procedures such as laceration repair, foley cath
- Complex procedures = 2 resources
Name some examples of services that are not considered resources.
(9)
- History and physical (including pelvic exam)
- point of care testing
- saline or heplock (although IV fluids are considered resources for hydration)
- PO medications
- Tetanus immunizations
- Prescription refills
- phone call to PCP
- Simple wound care (dressings)
- crutches, splints, slings
ESI level __ require two or more resources
3
ESI level __ require one resource
4
ESI level __ require no resources
5
ESI level __ and __ can mostly be taken care of by a PA or NP in a fastrack setting
4 and 5
A patient with an ESI level of 3 maybe upgraded to 2 under what conditions
abnormal VS outside of normal parameters, at the discretion of the triage nurse
what are the three vital signs used when triaging a patient?
For children under __ years, ____ is also used
pulse, respiratory rate, and spO2 saturation.
Children under 3 body temperature is also used
A 6 month old baby with a respiratory rate of 48 could have what ESI rating?
either 2 or 3
Temperature is only included with children under __ and should exclude ESI level less acute than __
3
3
The following questions should be answered and are key components of ESI level 2 criteria
(3)
- Is this a high risk situation?
- Is the patient experiencing new onset confusion, lethargy, or disorientation?
- Is the patient experiencing severe pain or distress?
When is chest pain treated as non-cardiac?
after it has been proven otherwise
A 30 year old with bright red blood per rectum, normal vital signs, and no other risk factors should get a triage level of __
3