During mass casualty incidents, what is a primary goal of nurse triage?

In the context of mass casualty incidents, the primary goal of nurse triage is to ensure efficient resource allocation. This ensures that medical resources, including personnel, equipment, and treatments, are directed to patients based on the severity of their conditions and immediate needs. By properly assessing which patients require urgent care and which can safely wait, triage helps manage limited resources effectively, ultimately improving patient outcomes in high-pressure scenarios.

Efficient resource allocation is critical in mass casualty situations where the demand for medical attention may significantly exceed the available capacity. Triage systems are designed to categorize patients rapidly, allowing healthcare providers to swiftly and appropriately respond to the most critical injuries and conditions first. This process can save lives by maximizing the use of available medical resources and ensuring that the most severely affected individuals receive care without unnecessary delays.

Other options, while relevant to healthcare practices, do not align as closely with the primary objective of triage during mass casualty situations. Prioritizing comfort measures may be important in some contexts, but it does not address the urgent need to manage severe cases effectively. Focusing on enhancing hospital capacity is a broader management goal rather than a direct responsibility of triage. Discharging patients quickly is not typically a priority during incidents where immediate and acute care is the main