Triage Application in Nursing - Essay Example

TRIAGE AFTER A DISASTER, Triage is a term which is mostly associated with emergency in hospitals and it acts like a guide to nurses. It is a guide on prioritizing patients in accordance to attending to them on their injuries. It is also associated with rationing of resources by attending on patients who are severely injured before the resources are over. In this condition victims are divided in group for easy attendance in accordance to the seriousness of suffering. As it pertains this course an emergency is any situation or occurrence which requires quick response while as a disaster is a phenomenon which is mostly likely to cause destruction. In case an emergency or a disaster occurs the people present should take strict action and report the instance to the authority as some try to help out. The state has to provide all the necessary facilities to handle emergency victims and to prevent occurrence of disasters as an option to take care of lives of citizens in the state. Federals should also be signed to help out prevent occurrence of disasters and help handle victims of emergency, for example between the national government and nonprofit making organizations. Kern county reverse triage pattern is a widely used strategy by many nurses incases concerning sorting of disaster victims as it pertains admission and administering services to them. Reverse triage is whereby victims of a disaster are admitted in an emergency unit as per the injuries that they have sustained after a disaster. Using this method also resources like beds are shared among the victims in terms of the injuries that they are suffering from. Patients who were already in the wards and do not need quick medical care are discharged to create or to give space to the incoming patients. As it pertains the five victims given in the question, Mr. Campbell who is victim number five should be admitted first because his matter is more serious as compared to the other four victims. Jason who is 6 years old and who is really suffering should be considered second. Lisa should be considered after Jason. After Janet Blake should be admitted and given the attention that he deserves as a victim. Sorting of the above victims is based on seriousness of the injuries that they have sustained after the disaster. The victim who has suffered severe injuries is admitted first and the others follow. In determining seriousness of the injuries we put in consideration different types of injuries which include; brain injuries, dislocation, fracture, flail chest and laceration. These helps in sorting of victims in order to administer medical services to them, we also put in consideration different symptoms that are seen from the victims. If victims have signs of biologic terrorism were should be able to observe serious illnesses from them which triggers their body to be very weak due to infection by viruses and also bacteria because such a disaster is related with such disease causing agents. Chemical or radiological terrorism will lead to victims having both external and internal injuries which can be seen and the correct medical services given (Woude, 2008). As it pertains Janet, she has to be observed if she has sustained any physical injury by looking at her general appearance and if she can be able to walk appropriately. She also has to be checked if she got a breathing difficulties for it to be dealt with first The after that she has to be passed through X- ray machine for are bones to be observed because she might up sustained some injuries more so dislocation of her bones or bone fracture. As all the above is done to her she must be observed of if she may be showing some biologic or chemical symptoms for quick administration of services to her. After the above assessment the conclusion will be made for easy administration of services to her before it is too late. In a situation where the victim starts to vomit accompanied by other serious symptoms , the patients requires to be encourage to vomit all the substances from the stomach because it might be caused by poison. The patient should be made to vomit in a position which the vomit cannot chock him or her .The room where he or she is should be open for free air circulation. Patient isolation is a situation whereby a patient is evacuated from others and put in his or her specific room for testing and much consideration is put on him or her. At this point also the victim must be made to be able to cough and breathe well because this can lead to death by him or her being chocked by the vomit. Vomiting by a patient or victim might be as a result of biologic or chemical terrorism. Victims of this kind of disaster must be taken with a lot of consideration and attended to as quick as possible. As it pertains the nursing profession in association to biologic, chemical and also radiologic terrorism has been of great help to many victims to the whole globe because they have safe many lives. This is a hard thing to deal with but they really give their best (Kenar, 2009). Biological, chemical and radiologic terrorism is one of the disasters which cause a lot of death in many nations. Biological includes introduction of disease causing microorganisms in the environment by terrorists. These organism causes infections which calls for quick intervention by medical personnel which include nurses. Chemical terrorism includes introduction of harmful gases in to the atmosphere which once inhaled they can cause severe injuries to people. Radiologic involves use of radiations to harm human beings by the terrorists. These radiations include; Gamma, Beta alpha rays which causes immediate injuries when directed to people. The injuries which are caused by such rays are severe and require quick response by the nurses. Biological terrorism victims are associated with symptoms like vomiting, skin rushes, pains and it is hard to get fracturing and dislocation to a victim of this kind of a disaster. Chemical terrorism victims are associated with symptoms like vomiting, chest pains and difficulties in breathing. Victims of this disaster must be attended to immediately because their lives are in great danger. Radiologic victims have got signs which are mostly physical in nature and can be observed from a distance. They include wounds and skin burns which are dangerous to the victims when not attended too quickly. Nurses have contributed a big percentage in saving lives of victims of these disasters by providing appropriate treatment to them in time. They have being employing the triage strategy which has really helped them out. Arrival of many victims while I’m trying to clear her airway will demand more attention from me because I have to use triage technique in order to be able to deal with all victims appropriately. This involves sorting the victims in terms of the seriousness of the injuries that they have sustained. I will employ reverse triage to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of my serves. I have to consider both reverse and conventional triage methods. Reverse method focuses mostly on sufficient utilization of resources and creation of more space to accommodate more patients in times of disasters. Conventional involves sorting of victims in order of seriousness of the injuries that they have sustained from the disaster. It also includes labeling of the victims in order to ensure all victims are attended to in accordance to seriousness of their injuries (Moskop, 2007). I have to remove and dispose my gloves when are dirty and try to change my clothes without wasting much time because they may end up contaminating other victims. This is part of hygiene which is required by the nursing profession. In disaster planning, response and mitigation nurses provide the best procedure to be followed to ensure all victims are attended to in time. They also administer first aid services to the victims as well as treating them. Nurses are able to provide services to victims who require special attention and consideration by isolating them in time and treating them. These kinds of victims must be admitted in their specific ward where the nurses are able to reach them quickly (Brian, 2009). References Kenar L, Eryιlmaz M. Evaluations on Triage Applications for Chemical Casualties in Chemically Contaminated Area. JAEM. 2009;8:42. Van der Woude I, de Cock JS, Bierens JJ, Christiaanse JC. TAP CBRN Preparedness: Knowledge, training, and networks. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2008;23: Iserson KV, Moskop JC (March 2007). "Triage in medicine, part I: Concept, history, and types". Annals of Emergency Medicine 49 (3): 275–81. Chipman M, Hackley BE, Spencer TS (February 1980). "Triage of mass casualties: concepts for coping with mixed battlefield injuries". Mil Med 145 (2): 99–100 Read More