Registered Triage Nurse

Position Summary:

Under the general supervision of the Clinical Nurse Lead and in collaboration with the Director of Nursing, the Triage Nurse performs care coordination and professional nursing functions to assess the severity of patients’ health concerns. Using TAPM established Adult and Pediatric telephone   q protocols, and clinical algorithms. The Triage Nurse determines appropriate patient dispositions including emergency care referrals, clinic provider appointments, or triage nurse clinic services, all within the licensed scope of practice. The RN will also support providers by triaging all walk-in patients, ensuring timely assessment and appropriate care coordination.

Job Responsibilities:

• Triage Nurses manage nurse-directed patient telephone calls and from walk-in patients requesting health care services
• Evaluate and assesses patient’s health care needs based on patient’s signs and symptoms
• Obtain appropriate input and direction from the provider as needed to determine best clinical course of action and recommendations for specific patient health care needs
• Coordinate and schedule same-day and walk-in appointments on the provider schedule
• Maintain a nurse only schedule
• Assist providers with special procedures as needed
• Manage prescription refills per protocol
• Provides clinical support on the floor as needed to ensure adequate coverage and continuity of patient care.
• Serve as a clinical resource and professional role model for other nursing staff.
• Prioritizes work tasks and services to ensure timely and efficient completion.
• Maintains accurate, clear, and concise documentation, including progress notes, problem lists, and medication lists, in accordance with clinical and organizational standards.
• Communicates appropriately and tactfully with staff, consultants, patients, significant others, and community.
• Participates in staff, planning, in-service, and other meetings as needed.
• Administers medications and performs medical and nursing procedures as ordered within the scope of practice.

Administrative Responsibilities:

• Document symptoms/complaints, nursing assessment, advice provided and patient/caller response. Follows policies, procedures, and protocols to ensure consistency and departmental effectiveness as well as improve health care outcomes of patients/callers and their access to appropriate health care.
• Completes all patient-related documentation, including but not limited to prior authorizations, home health forms, and other required medical paperwork in a timely and accurate manner.
• Provide patient education: e.g. chronic disease, preventive and family
• Participate in quality improvement programs
• Assure that pertinent medical information is forwarded to proper departments as needed for continuity of patient care
• Document in electronic health record (EHR), triage assessment, plan, implementation, and evaluation, follow-up
• Must have knowledge of disease processes, normal growth and development of all age groups
• Must possess community health knowledge and theory
• Must operate with culturally sensitivity with respect to working with persons and groups of diverse racial, ethnic, economic and social backgrounds

Clinical Responsibilities:

• Administers certain medications, injections, immunizations and family planning options as ordered by provider
• In conjunction with Clinical Nurse Lead, monitor patient flow in the clinic; ensure that patients receive all recommended services in a timely manner.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must have a current NC RN license
• Currently CPR certified
• At least one year of Triage Nurse Experience
• Associate’s Degree required
• Bachelor’s Degree preferred

Preparation and training:

• Job duties require registered nurse (BSN preferred) with a minimum of three (3) years’ experience in a similar capacity. Must have a working knowledge of data processing equipment, computers, telephones, and such typical office machines and equipment. Must maintain effective written and oral communication and English skills. Must maintain current North Carolina RN License, CPR certification, Venipuncture certification, IV Certification, and a NC driver’s license for occasional travel.