What is the appropriate amount of time for a nurse to spend triaging each client during a mass casualty incident?

During a mass casualty incident, the priority is to quickly identify the severity of injuries in order to allocate resources effectively. The correct choice of less than 15 seconds for triaging each client is based on the need for rapid assessment to determine which victims require immediate intervention and which can wait for care. This brief assessment time allows healthcare providers to categorize patients swiftly into systems like the START (Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment) system, which classifies patients based on their respiratory status, perfusion, and mental status.

The rationale for this rapid triage process is that in a mass casualty situation, many people may be injured, but not all injuries are life-threatening. Therefore, being able to quickly assess each individual allows for a more efficient and effective response, saving more lives overall. Longer assessment times could delay critical care for those who need it most, which emphasizes the importance of a quick triage process in these situations.