Telephone Triage Protocols for Nurses

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 ... - NEWand updated protocolsoffer 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 - NEWprotocols 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 protocolshelp you quickly locate topics by symptom or condition - Table of contents by body systemhelps 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 problemsfrom those not requiring physician or emergency care - Increases consistencyof 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 andgrouped 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 Questionsto 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&l