Triage RN (WHWC)

Essential Duties:

• Supports and practices the mission and philosophy of Methodist Healthcare Ministries
• Answer phone calls for Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ multi-disciplinary health & wellness center locations. 
• Answer telephone promptly, in a polite, and professional manner.
• Utilizing a holistic approach and evidence-based nursing practices, incorporates the nursing process into the goal directed plan of care for the patient.
• Assesses and prioritizes medical needs via telephone and directs patients to appropriate and necessary care.
• Calls pharmacy with prescription refills as prescribed by and under the direction of the physician. 
• Guides evaluation including instructing patient/caller how to evaluate normal/abnormal symptoms, effectiveness of treatment and when to call back. 
• Documents symptoms/complaints, nursing assessment, advice and patient/caller response. 
• Follows policies, procedures, and protocols using Clear Triage to ensure consistency and departmental effectiveness as well as improve healthcare outcomes of patients/callers and their access to appropriate healthcare.
• Participates in orienting, training, and guiding team members. 
• Promote and reinforce patient centered medical home concepts with patients
• Works to create, revise and coordinate implementation of the plan of care through collaboration with the multidisciplinary team
• Coordinate and manage the care of these designated patients within the clinic and other primary care departments
• Consult regularly with the behavioral health, dental and medical providers of the identified patients
• Work with providers, staff from other departments, specialists, Care Coordinator, Wesley Nurses, patients and families to facilitate patient through the care system
• Work with outside agencies for welfare checks and occasionally make home visits with the Community Healthcare Worker and/or Care Coordinator
• Monitor patients for changes in clinical symptoms both in person and by phone

Qualifications: 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience:

Graduate of an accredited RN program, ADN minimum, Bachelor of Science in Nursing preferred. Three years of nursing experience in a hospital or clinic setting required. Critical care nursing experience preferred. 

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

Licensed as a Registered Nurse by the State of Texas and BLS required. 

Language Skills:

Must possess strong interpersonal skills, demonstrated in both written and verbal communication.  Must be able to think critically, using nursing assessment skills to determine when potential patient safety risks should be reported promptly.  Must be able to read, analyze, and interpret medical records, professional journals, technical procedures or government regulations. Must be able to effectively present information and respond to questions from individuals and groups in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner. English and Spanish required. 

Reasoning Ability:

Must be able to prioritize analyze data, demonstrate an aptitude for statistics, and efficiently and effectively manage multiple tasks.  

Computer Skills: 

Must be able to demonstrate working knowledge of the Internet, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and electronic health record applications.

Work Environment and Physical Demands: 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a team member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the team member is exposed to a medical clinic. Position necessitates bending, stooping, twisting, turning, walking, climbing step stools, sitting and standing for periods of time. Must be able to lift and maneuver at least 25 pounds.