Factors Associated with Self-Reported Triage Competency Among Emergency Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study

Triage competency is essential for safe and timely emergency care amid ongoing changes in emergency department practice. This study examined factors associated with self-reported triage competency among emergency nurses.

This cross-sectional study included 139 emergency nurses who performed triage at 3 general hospitals in South Korea. Nursing performance capability, patient safety performance, self-efficacy, and triage competency were assessed using self-administered questionnaires. Multiple linear regression was used to examine factors associated with self-reported triage competency.

Higher self-efficacy (β = 0.383, P < .001), patient safety performance (β = 0.310, P < .001), nursing performance capability (β = 0.255, P < .001), and longer emergency department experience (β = 0.132, P = .047) were associated with higher self-reported triage competency. The adjusted R² was 0.592.

Self-efficacy, patient safety performance, nursing performance capability, and emergency department experience were associated with self-reported triage competency. Because the study was cross-sectional and all variables were self-reported, causal relationships cannot be inferred. Longitudinal and intervention studies using objective measures of triage performance are needed.