Description

Job Summary:

The Triage Nurse will assess the patient’s needs, clinical symptoms, follow symptom-based protocols and give appropriate clinical advice per nationally-recognized guidelines. The nurse also provides telephone education and counseling to callers regarding a variety of health-related topics. When appropriate, the nurse provides referral to providers, healthcare facilities, and community resources.

• Triage patients to assess and evaluate health questions and concerns, including screening the illness, facilitating a provider visit when necessary, and giving patient self-care advice when appropriate.
• Exercise nursing skill and care to advise patients according to both nationally-recognized and internal triage protocols.
• Develop an assessment based on the conversation with the patient and information within the medical records. Apply critical thinking skills and consider alternatives in the delivery of patient care.
• Demonstrate the ability to respond to requests for information in an appropriate and timely manner, via phone, portal and in office if necessary.
• Displays competency in assessing the health needs of populations across the continuum of life (newborn to end stages of life).
• Respond with the appropriate standard of care for specific patient cases and accurately document triage assessment, care plan and instructions, follow up notes, provider input and patient responses in the electronic medical record. Concise documentation of all calls with adherence to confidentiality agreements and policy and procedure.
• Possess a skill set with a wide range of client and administrative responsibilities. For example, responding to health questions over the telephone by offering careful assessment of patients without physically seeing them through knowledge of illness and injury.
• Develop and maintain human relationships and integrate the influence of the human experience of health, illness and /or healing.
• Use sound judgment in managing calls and effectively handle challenging situations both on the phone and in the office as needed.
• Cross train to maximize support to team as a whole to include but not limited to: seating, electronic documentation, nurse visits, prescription refills, INR/PT, allergy shots and similar clinical responsibilities.
• Incorporate teaching in the delivery of care and demonstrate competence in health promotion.

Requirements

Education

• ADN or BSN from accredited school of nursing
• RN license in state of Vermont

Experience

• Minimum 2 years as a Registered Nurse (RN)
• Minimum 1 year performing telephonic nurse triage for primary or specialist care offices preferred

Knowledge and Abilities:

• Superior nursing process skills.
• Excellent clinical acumen.
• Understanding of, and ability to meet, quality, performance and productivity measures.
• Exceptional written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills practiced with all patients, their families, health personnel, and community members.
• Health education counseling skills.
• Pleasant telephone manner.
• Positive, enthusiastic, helpful personality.
• Organized, able to set priorities.
• Works effectively with minimum supervision.
• Works well as a team member.

*Must be fully vaccinated against COVID 19 virus and provide required vaccination documentation unless approved for an exemption prior to starting employment. *