The Correlation Between Emergency Department Nurse Workload and Triage Determination Accuracy

Abstract

Background: The Emergency Department (ED) is the primary entry point for 24-hour hospital healthcare services, and accurate triage determination is essential for prioritizing patient care based on clinical severity to ensure patient safety. High patient volumes and administrative demands often raise nurse workload, which may affect concentration and clinical decision-making accuracy. Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the correlation between Emergency Department (ED) nurse workload and triage determination accuracy Methods: This quantitative study used a cross-sectional design. The population comprised all 120 ED nurses across the Sari Asih Hospital network, enrolled using a total sampling (census) technique. Data were collected using a workload questionnaire and a triage accuracy observation sheet, and analyzed using the Chi-Square test. Results: Most respondents had a high workload (69 nurses, 57.5%), followed by moderate (45, 37.5%) and low workload (6, 5%). Most nurses performed triage inaccurately (88, 73.3%), while 32 (26.7%) were accurate. The Chi-Square test showed a significant correlation between nurse workload and triage determination accuracy (p < 0.001). Conclusion: There is a significant correlation between ED nurse workload and triage determination accuracy at Sari Asih Hospital: higher workload is associated with lower triage accuracy.