Abstract
Telephone triage is an emerging concept in home health care nursing practice, which has evolved as a result of acute needs of patients receiving community-based home care services. The allocation and mobilization of agency and community resources based on telephone clini cal assessment require excellent decision-making and communication skills, clinical compe tence, and a personal commitment to patient protection. Watson's theory of nursing, Nursing: Human Science and Human Care, A Theory of Nursing (1988), is applicable to triage in home care practice and espouses the role of the triage nurse as a professional nursing "caring encoun ter." Key words: caring event, home care clinical practice, human science and human care, triage health encounter
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