Triage Accuracy and Nurses’ Response Time in Emergency Departments : Evidence from two Hospitals in Tulang Bawang, Indonesia

Abstract

Background: Emergency Department (ED) services require accurate triage and rapid nurse response times to ensure timely management of critically ill patients and reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality. Delays or inaccuracies in triage may lead to inappropriate patient prioritization, delayed interventions, and poorer clinical outcomes. Therefore, evaluating the relationship between triage accuracy and nurse response time is essential to improve the quality and efficiency of emergency care.Literature Review: Previous studies have demonstrated that triage accuracy is a key determinant of effective emergency services, as it enables nurses to prioritize patients according to the severity of their conditions and initiate appropriate interventions promptly. Accurate triage has been associated with shorter response times, improved patient safety, and enhanced emergency department performance. Methodology: This study employed an analytical survey using a cross-sectional design involving 30 Emergency Department nurses from Mutiara Bunda Hospital and Penawar Medika Hospital, Tulang Bawang Regency, Lampung Province. Total sampling was applied, and data were collected using a triage accuracy questionnaire and a nurse response time observation checklist. Data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate analyses, with the Chi-Square test used to determine the association between triage accuracy and nurse response time. Results: The findings showed that 93.3% of nurses performed accurate triage and 93.3% demonstrated rapid response times. Conversely, nurses with inaccurate triage exhibited slow to very slow response times (100%). Chi-Square analysis revealed a statistically significant relationship between triage accuracy and nurse response time (p = 0.000), indicating that accurate triage was associated with faster nursing responses in emergency situations. Discussion: These findings suggest that accurate triage enhances nurses’ ability to identify patient priorities and deliver timely emergency interventions, thereby improving the efficiency and quality of emergency care. The results are consistent with previous evidence indicating that appropriate triage practices contribute to faster response times and better patient outcomes. Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between triage accuracy and nurse response time in the Emergency Departments of Mutiara Bunda Hospital and Penawar Medika Hospital, with accurate triage contributing to more rapid emergency nursing responses. Recommendation: Hospitals should strengthen continuous triage education, competency-based training, and regular evaluations of emergency nurses to improve triage accuracy and optimize response times, ultimately enhancing the quality of emergency services and patient safety.