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 careProtocols address adult, pediatric, geriatric, maternal/child, home health concerns, current health issues, and communicable disease outbreaksNEW protocols include arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), elder abuse, stroke symptoms, and Zika virusPost-operative conditions and considerations have been added to numerous protocolsExpanded appendices include altered mental status, PTSD, suicide prevention, and emergency preparednessAlpha-organized protocols help you quickly locate topics by symptom or conditionTable of contents by body system helps you quickly locate topics by body system, body part or set of related symptomsPeer-reviewed by nursing expertsEasy-to-follow question-asking flow chart - Yes or No answers lead to specific care recommendationsIdeal guidance for all nurses, particularly those in triage and ambulatory practiceSorts life-threatening problems from those not requiring physician or emergency careIncreases consistency of advice and documentationNurse 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 concernSymptoms alpha-organized and grouped by level of urgency, addressing injuries, trauma, pain, swelling and other symptoms for: Body part problemsBody system problemsChronic and infectious diseasesBehavioral problemsPediatric-specific problemsMaternal/obstetric specific problems or conditionsSections under every symptom or condition include: Key Questions to ask callerOther Protocols to ConsiderReminder - what to note for proper documentationAssessment - Yes or No questions to determine the urgency of symptoms or conditionsActions - clear direction following Yes or No answers to questionsImmediate actions - proven protocols that refer caller to emergency, physician, or at-home care instructionsHome Care Instructions - comprehensive actions to take before emergency care, before appointment, or at-home careEmergency Instructions - in-the-moment first aidReport the Following Problems - what caller should tell their personal or ER physicianSeek Emergency Care Immediately - if certain symptoms occurReminder to determine if caller agrees with the advice provided and if not, reevaluateMust-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.