Nurses’ experiences of triage in two resource-constrained facilities in Ho Municipality, Ghana: a qualitative descriptive study

Triage is a critical component of emergency department (ED) care, enabling the timely identification and prioritisation of patients based on the urgency of their conditions. However, in resource-constrained settings, triage nurses often work within challenging environments characterised by limited resources, high patient volumes, and organisational constraints, which may affect the quality and timeliness of care. This study explored nurses’ experiences of triage and its perceived influence on emergency care delivery in the Ho Municipality of Ghana. A qualitative exploratory descriptive design was employed. Twelve registered nurses working in the emergency departments of Ho Municipal Hospital and Ho Polyclinic participated in semi-structured interviews. Nurses having at least one year of triage experience were purposively selected. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase approach to thematic analysis. Thematic analysis generated three themes and eight subthemes. Nurses described emotional and operational challenges in triage, including burnout, disruptive behaviour from patients and relatives, limited recognition from management, and organisational insufficiencies. These challenges contributed to delays and inaccuracies in patient assessment and triage decisions, while organisational support emerged as important for strengthening triage practice. Emergency triage in the Ho Municipality depended on nurses’ commitment but was constrained by inadequate staffing, resources, institutional support, and challenging patient interactions. Strengthening triage requires improved infrastructure, continuous professional development, supportive leadership, standardised practices, and enhanced communication systems.