Camp Claire: Triage Basics Part 2

The TAPE Rule (Delegation)

100

$100: The letter in TAPE that represents the "T" in "I will show you how to use this." 

Teaching

200

$200: The "A" in TAPE that requires an RN to do the very first physical exam.

Assessment

300

$300: This task involves checking if a medication worked and belongs only to the RN. (Answer: What is Evaluation?)

Evaluation

400

$400: This nursing role is who the RN should delegate routine vitals to for a stable patient. 

UAP / Assistant

500

$500: The "P" in TAPE that describes the creation of the nursing care goals. 

Planning

The "Who First?" Trail (Prioritization)

100

$100: This patient should be seen before a stable patient with a cold. 

Chest Pain Patient

200

$200: The patient you see first if one has 10/10 pain and the other is newly confused. 

Confused Patient

300

$300: The first patient to see between a small cut and a "tight, itchy throat." 

Anaphylaxis / Allergic Reaction

400

$400: The priority patient between a stable COPD patient and one having a seizure. 

Seizure Patient

500

$500: The priority between a patient with a headache and one with "fruity-smelling" breath. 

DKA / Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Red Flag Alerts (Unexpected Findings)

100

$100: A patient with a cast whose toes are blue and cold. 

Compartment Syndrome

200

$200: A patient 2 days after surgery with a temperature of 103°F. 

An Infection

300

$300: A child with a "strawberry-red" tongue and a high fever. 

Kawasaki Disease

400

$400: A patient with a history of heart failure who is coughing up pink, frothy spit. 

Pulmonary Edema

500

$500: A patient taking blood thinners who has black, tarry stools. 

Internal / GI Bleed

Safety Scout (Fundamentals)

100

$100: The piece of PPE that is almost always removed first (because it is the dirtiest). 

Gloves

200

$200: The single most effective way to prevent the spread of germs. 

Handwashing

300

$300: This should be tried first before using a physical restraint. 

De-escalation / Reorientation

400

$400: The first thing a nurse does after a patient falls but before moving them. 

Assessment for Injury

500

$500: The phrase "R.A.C.E." describes what to do in this emergency. 

Fire

Lab Rats (Basic Labs)

100

$100: This electrolyte, found in bananas, has a normal range of 3.5 to 5.0. 

Potassium

200

$200: A high count of these cells (WBCs) usually indicates an infection. 

White Blood Cells

300

$300: This lab test (A1C) measures blood sugar over 3 months, used for Diabetes. 

Hemoglobin A1C

400

$400: These cells help your blood clot; if they are low, you might bruise easily. 

Platelets

500

$500: If this kidney value is high, you should question giving contrast dye.

Creatinine