Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
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Knowledge of a patient's perception of her medical needs and urgency may make it possible for emergency nurses to communicate the triage decision and make the patient understand the assessment and triage category. The aim of this study was to compare the patients' own assessments of their acuity to the triage nurse's assessment, as well as describe patient satisfaction and levels of anxiety. ⋯ Helping the patient understand the severity of his medical condition and providing information about the triage category and its implications for care in the emergency department should be a focus in communication between the triage nurse and patient. It may well be that the patient's anxiety level is reduced and satisfaction increased if the triage code is known and understood by the patient.