Latent profile analysis of emergency nurses' pre-triage competence and its associated factors: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Pre-triage competence is a critical component of emergency nursing that directly influences patient prioritization, clinical safety, and departmental efficiency. However, few studies have explored the heterogeneity of this competence among emergency nurses or the factors shaping different competence profiles. This study aimed to identify distinct latent subgroups of pre-triage competence among emergency nurses and to examine demographic, educational, and professional factors associated with competence levels. METHODS: A multicenter, cross-sectional survey was conducted from July 1 to August 1, 2025, across 12 secondary and tertiary hospitals in Sichuan Province, China. A total of 367 emergency nurses completed a structured, self-administered questionnaire comprising the Emergency Pre-Triage Competence Scale, Nursing Process Application Ability Scale, and Nursing Informatics Competency Scale. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was performed in Mplus 8.3 to identify potential subgroups of pre-triage competence, followed by multinomial logistic regression to determine predictors of class membership. RESULTS: Model fit indices supported a three-class solution representing low (21.8%), moderate (30.8%), and high (47.4%) levels of pre-triage competence. Nurses in the high-competence group demonstrated consistently higher mean scores across clinical synthesis and illness-severity judgment, communication and coordination, and comprehensive emergency collaboration domains. Univariate analyses revealed significant between-class differences in professional title, years of service, educational level, hospital grade, monthly income, and specialty certification (all p < 0.001). Multivariate regression identified higher professional title, longer emergency department experience, bachelor's degree or above, employment in tertiary hospitals, higher monthly income, critical/emergency specialty certification, and stronger nursing process and informatics competencies as independent predictors of belonging to moderate- or high-competence groups. CONCLUSION: Emergency nurses' pre-triage competence is heterogeneous and can be classified into three distinct profiles. Higher educational attainment, extended professional experience, higher rank, and stronger process and informatics abilities are key determinants of superior competence. These findings underscore the importance of targeted training and professional development strategies to enhance pre-triage performance and ensure patient safety in emergency care settings.