Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is a key characteristic of a patient categorized as Level 1 in the ESI triage system?
What is a key characteristic of a patient categorized as Level 1 in the ESI triage system?
- The patient requires monitoring but is stable.
- The patient is responsive to verbal stimuli.
- The patient can maintain their airway independently.
- The patient has critical hemodynamic instability. (correct)
Which of the following vital sign abnormalities would classify a patient as Level 2?
Which of the following vital sign abnormalities would classify a patient as Level 2?
- Oxygen saturation below 90%. (correct)
- Heart rate of 90 beats per minute.
- Blood pressure within normal limits.
- Respiratory rate of 20 breaths per minute.
Which statement accurately describes the AVPU scale in relation to Level 1 patients?
Which statement accurately describes the AVPU scale in relation to Level 1 patients?
- It is used to assess the patient's pain threshold.
- It categorizes patients based on their responsiveness to stimuli. (correct)
- It indicates the patient's level of consciousness during vital sign assessment.
- It measures blood pressure responses.
In which scenario would a patient not be classified as Level 1 despite critical symptoms?
In which scenario would a patient not be classified as Level 1 despite critical symptoms?
What should a triage nurse consider if a patient does not meet Level 1 criteria?
What should a triage nurse consider if a patient does not meet Level 1 criteria?
Flashcards
What is the Emergency Severity Index (ESI)?
What is the Emergency Severity Index (ESI)?
A system used by triage nurses to quickly assess the severity of a patient's condition and determine the urgency of medical attention.
What are Level 1 ESI patients?
What are Level 1 ESI patients?
Patients who require immediate life-saving interventions, often involving a true trauma patient needing immediate physician involvement. These patients are typically unresponsive to pain or only responsive to pain, often with unstable vital signs.
What are Level 2 ESI patients?
What are Level 2 ESI patients?
Patients who do not need immediate life-saving interventions but require significant resources during their hospital visit. These patients may have vital signs outside normal limits but are not in immediate danger.
What is the AVPU scale?
What is the AVPU scale?
Signup and view all the flashcards
What is the triage algorithm used in the ESI system?
What is the triage algorithm used in the ESI system?
Signup and view all the flashcards
Study Notes
Emergency Severity Index (ESI) Triage
- ESI triage algorithm used by nurses to determine patient need for immediate life-saving intervention.
- Nurses assess patient for patent airway, breathing, and pulse.
- Assess for inadequate oxygenation, hemodynamic stability, need for immediate medication, or interventions.
- Immediate life-saving therapies needed if the patient meets criteria for Level 1 trauma.
- Level 1 trauma patients have immediate physician involvement.
- AVPU scale (Alert, Verbal, Pain, Unresponsive) used to assess level of consciousness. Level 1 patients are unresponsive or only responsive to pain.
- Level 2 patients need many hospital resources.
- Level 2 criteria includes unstable vital signs like high heart rate, low oxygen saturation, and high respiratory rate.
- Vital signs criteria for Level 2 vary by patient age.
- Nurses with experience are critical in triage decisions.
- Nurses assess unusual presentations of diseases and unusual symptom progression.
- The nurse's experience and the emergency department's routine practice help make decisions.
- Triage decisions include discharge, admission to observation unit, or admission to hospital floor.
Level 1 vs. Level 2
- Level 1 patients require immediate life-saving intervention.
- Level 2 patients require many resources.
- Level 1 patients are high-risk, confused, disoriented, lethargic, or in severe pain.
- Level 2 patients are outside the normal vital signs range that are close to dangerous limits.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
This quiz examines the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) triage system used by nurses to assess patients' need for immediate medical intervention. It covers criteria for Level 1 and Level 2 trauma patients, including assessment of vital signs and the AVPU scale. Test your knowledge on how nurses make critical triage decisions based on patient presentations and condition stability.
