[Identification of finalist nursing care in a pediatric emergency department of primary care].

OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics of care in a pediatric emergency service to identify potential finalist nursing areas.

METHOD: Cross-sectional study in 385 randomly selected patients. Sex, age, municipality of residence, kinship companion, reasons for consultation, level of urgency, care and treatment protocols prior to medical care, observation, health education, delay in care, complications during the wait, duration of care and referral needs is assesed. The calculations were performed using SPSS 17.0.

RESULTS: The sample included 380 children, 63% male, ages 3 (0.5-11) years. Delay in triage was 4 (0-15) minutes and the duration of 5 (2-7). The reasons for consultation were fever 54 (49-59)%, cough 45(40-50)%, pain 14 (11-17)%, skin/mucous lesions 13 (10-16)%, vomiting 10 (7-13)%. The level distribution was for 2th triage level 5 (3-7)%, 3th level 23 (19-27)%, 4th level 28 (26-30)% and 5th level 44 (39-49)%. Care protocols were fever 20 (16-24)%, respiratory distress and vomiting/diarrhea, 7 (4-10)% and pain 3 (1-5)%. In 20% the nurse start treatment prior to consultation. 22% remained under observation. 20% received health education. There were 3% of complications. The 2% accurate referral. The 53% of the reasons for non-serious inquiries are classified as susceptible finalist care by nurse.

DISCUSSION: The results expand the perspectives of finalist nursing areas. Three finalists areas are identified: with minimal protocols, previous protocol development and decision algorithms and, with limitations by actual legal framework.