The effects of inservice education on the institution of triage protocols.

This correlational study examined the effects of inservice education on the initiation of triage protocols by emergency room nurses for patients experiencing cardiac symptom distress. The study used a pretest/posttest design with a convenience sample of 40 patients who were experiencing cardiac symptom distress. Chart reviews were conducted on 20 patients seen in the emergency room with suspected myocardial infarction. Then emergency room nurses had an inservice program on institution of triage protocols, and 20 more patient charts were reviewed. The study revealed two statistically significant findings. First, the staff nurses incorporated pain and symptom distress measurement tools in physical assessments more frequently after inservice education sessions than before inservice education sessions. Second, the staff nurses documented the use of triage protocols more frequently after the inservice education sessions than before the sessions. These findings suggest that nursing inservice education positively affects nursing care for patients with suspected myocardial infarction.