Infants and small children differ from adults both psychologically and physiologically implicating challenging levels of assessment and disposition for the triage nurse. Children can deteriorate rapidly, however, consistency and efficiency
in triage of the child is optimised when age, historical data and clinical presentation are included in the triage assessment (Emergency Triage Education Kit 2009).
Nurses triaging the unwell child are therefore responsible for identifying those at risk of more serious illness and should include evidence-based decisions in applying a triage category. Guidelines to direct appropriate categorisation and consistent care should therefore improve the systematic approach to achieving best patient outcomes