Triage Nurse-LPN

Position Summary:

The Triage Nurse provides care to individuals or defined patient populations through the use of telecommunications or face-to-face interactions, in accordance with computer-based algorithms, protocols, or guidelines. The nurse uses critical thinking and communication skills to assess, plan, implement, educate and evaluate patient outcomes. The Triage Nurse performs care coordination and professional nursing functions to assess the severity of the patient’s health concerns using protocols and algorithms in a manner that provides patient dispositions to emergency care, clinic provider appointments, and triage nurse clinic services within the scope of the licensed practice.

Essential Duties:

• The Triage Nurse will be part of a care coordination team supporting general care processes alongside the providers.

• Manages nurse-directed patient telephone calls and walk-in patients requesting health care services.

• Evaluates and assesses patient’s health care needs based on patient’s signs and symptoms utilizing established triage protocols and guidelines.

• Obtains appropriate input and direction from the provider, as needed, to determine best clinical course of action and recommendations for specific patient health care needs.

• Accurately documents 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.

• Coordinate and schedule same-day and walk-in appointments on the provider schedules

• Utilize standing orders, triage protocols and algorithms appropriately.

• Monitor patient flow in the clinic; ensure that patients receive all recommended services in a timely manner.

• Provide patient education, as needed: e.g. chronic disease, preventive and family.

• Administers certain medications, injections, immunizations and family planning options as ordered by provider.

• Assures that pertinent medical information is forwarded to proper departments as needed for continuity of patient care.

• Documents in electronic health record (EHR); triage assessment, plan, implementation, evaluation, and follow-up.

• As needed, perform other nursing functions as assigned. Assist providers with special procedures as needed.

• Help manage prescription refills, per protocol.

• Other duties as assigned.