Implementation of a Triage Assessment Area to Decrease Left Without Being Seen Rates in the Emergency Department

Author

Margaret Mary T. Steed, Jacksonville State UniversityFollow

Date of Award

Summer 2025

Document Type

DNP Executive Summary

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Family Nurse Practitioner

Department

Nursing

Faculty Chair

Heather Wallace

Preceptor

Frederick Pich

Abstract

Background: Left without being seen (LWBS) is a concern for emergency departments (EDs) nationwide. LWBS involves patients who sign into the ED and leave prior to being seen by a medical provider. LWBS has been linked to increased wait times in the ED.

Purpose: The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project is to aid with decreasing LWBS rates in a local ED. Many tools aid with decreasing LWBS rates, including nurse-initiated protocols and standardized order sets. Despite available tools, LWBS rates remain elevated at 0.95% for the local ED.

Project Design: The evidence-based DNP quality improvement project included implementation of a triage assessment area (TAA) to decrease LWBS rates in the ED over an eight-week period. Education was provided to ED staff prior to project implementation on having a dedicated TAA with the goal to decrease LWBS rates.

Results: This DNP project included 177 patients that LWBS during implementation. The results of the project suggest that TAA does aid in decreasing LWBS rates, with LWBS rates decreasing from 0.95% pre-implementation to 0.73% post-implementation.

Conclusion: The implementation of a TAA was successful in decreasing LWBS rates in patients who presented to the ED.

Recommended Citation

Steed, Margaret Mary T., "Implementation of a Triage Assessment Area to Decrease Left Without Being Seen Rates in the Emergency Department" (2025). Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects. 136.
https://digitalcommons.jsu.edu/etds_nursing/136