Ward nurses’ perceptions of clinical trigger questions

Carberry, Martin

Martin Carberry is nurse consultant for critical care; Pauline Clements is hospital emergency care team (HECT) senior charge nurse; Elaine Headley is a HECT senior charge nurse, all at NHS Lanarkshire.

Nursing Times 110(3):p 15-17, January 15, 2014.

In this article…

> Explanation of clinical trigger questions

> Nurses' views on the effectiveness of clinical trigger questions

> Possible uses of trigger questions in healthcare

Abstract

Carberry M et al (2014) Early warning systems 2: ward nurses’ perceptions of clinical trigger questions. Nursing Times; 109: 1/3, 15-17.

Aim

This service evaluation was conducted in three acute hospitals to ascertain ward nurses’ thoughts on clinical trigger questions used to identify sick patients.

Method

Trigger questions were added to early warning scoring systems to help nurses identify and hand over sick patients. After the questions were introduced, all nurses (n = 633) working in acute wards of three district general hospitals were sent an anonymous questionnaire. Analysis was completed using descriptive statistics.

Results

The response rate was 61.4% (n = 389). Most (56.9%) respondents thought the questions changed their perception of what makes a patient at risk of deterioration, 85.7% thought they helped identify sick patients and 87.5% thought they improved referral.

Conclusion

Nurses felt clinical trigger questions helped them identify ill patients. Such questions could be used as a clinical framework for escalation and referral, and to support ward staff in identifying patients whose health is deteriorating.