What is the appropriate amount of time a nurse should spend triaging each client during a mass casualty incident?

In a mass casualty incident, the primary goal of triaging is to quickly assess patients in order to determine the most effective way to allocate limited medical resources. Spending too much time on any single patient can lead to neglecting others who may require immediate attention. The recommended time frame of less than 15 seconds for triaging each client allows healthcare providers to make rapid but informed decisions about the severity of a patient’s condition.

During this critical phase, the nurse focuses on identifying life-threatening conditions, such as airway obstruction, significant bleeding, or decreased level of consciousness. With this time constraint, the nurse can utilize quick evaluations of vital signs, responsiveness, and the presence of major injuries to categorize patients effectively. This swift assessment aids in prioritizing care and ensuring that those with the most critical needs receive it as soon as possible.

Higher time limits would compromise the efficiency of triage and could result in worsening outcomes for patients requiring urgent care. Therefore, triaging in under 15 seconds strikes an essential balance between thoroughness and efficiency in disaster situations.