Telephone Triage for Pediatrics

Handle questions about pediatric care with confident accuracy: Telephone Triage Protocols for Pediatrics is the quick-access guide to providing fast, efficient phone assessments and accurate care recommendations.

This comprehensive, on-the-spot resource lists a broad range of symptoms alphabetically. A flow chart format provides the crucial Yes or No questions to ask, with each answer moving quickly to optimal recommendations or instructions. A vital resource for all nurses, this is irreplaceable to those in pediatric or family practice.

Tap into top-level guidance for fast, efficient assessments …

Step-by-step guidance for making accurate assessments —170 proven protocols addressing a wide range of symptoms, disorders, and medical emergencies, for newborn to age 18
Sorts life-threatening problems from those not requiring physician or emergency care—callers are directed to make an appointment, seek emergency care, or follow home care instructions
Increases consistency of advice and documentation
Supports nurses of all knowledge and experience levels
Color tabs for each section enable quick access
Symptoms alpha-organized and grouped by level of urgency, addressing injuries, trauma, pain, swelling, and other symptoms for:

Head, eyes, ears, nose, throat, mouth, back, neck, arm, and leg
Body system problems – chest/cardiovascular, respiratory GI, genital/obstetrics and gynecological problems, urination, and skin problems
Chronic and infectious diseases
Behavioral problems
Infant-specific problems



Sections under every symptom include:

Key Questions to ask the caller
Other Protocols to Consider
Reminders – for proper documentation
Assessment – symptoms and conditions that determine urgency
Action column – Following Yes or No answers to assessment questions, with emergency actions appearing first
Immediate actions – proven protocols and/or referrals to emergency, physician, or at-home care
Home Care Instructions – before emergency care, before appointment, or at-home care
Emergency Instructions – in-the-moment first aid
Report the Following Problems – what caller should tell their physician or emergency department
Seek Emergency Care Immediately – if certain symptoms occur


Must-have resource for medical offices, clinics, schools, emergency departments, urgent care centers, home health agencies, and managed healthcare providers

About The Authors

Julie Briggs, RN, BSN, MHA, is Director of the Emergency Department at Good Samaritan Community Healthcare in Puyallup, Washington.

Mikki Meadows-Oliver, PhD, RN, PNP-BC, is an Associate Professor at the Yale University School of Nursing in Orange, Connecticut.