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What Does a Telephone Triage Nurse Do?

When the doctor is out, the office is closed, or there is an emergency, the telephone triage nurse is called. Telephone triage nurses must ask questions to get information from patients, assess the situation, and figure out the next steps.

A telephone triage nurse does not diagnose, but he or she is often the first step for a patient seeking health care.

Education & Training Required to Become a Telephone Triage Nurse

Most states require at least five years of clinical nursing experience to qualify for a telephone triage nurse position. While there are no nursing school degree programs in telephone triage specifically, there are plenty of training options to help you prepare.

• Continuing education classes, or CE telephone triage classes, are available
• There may not be online degree programs, but there are plenty of online courses
• Seminars are held nationwide to train telephone triage nurses
• Computer and phone vendors train triage nurses on their products

Distinguish yourself from other applicants with training and online courses.

Typical Characteristics of a Telephone Triage Nurse

Whether you are a nurse or student, keep in mind a few traits that make a good telephone triage nurse:

• Communication skills: Patients of all ages and stages of health call in with potential emergencies, and you must communicate effectively.
• Calm Demeanor: Telephone triage is a high-pressure environment. A calm head is vital to you and the caller.
• Comfort at a Computer: Telephone triage nursing is not an on-your-feet job. Are you comfortable at a computer?

High Demand for Telephone Triage Nurses

The demand for telephone triage nurses is increasing as health care and insurance costs escalate. Interested applicants should look for positions with physician's offices, health insurers, and hospitals. As registered nurses, telephone triage nurses enjoy comfortable salaries. The median annual wage for RNs in 2008 was $62,450.

Telephone triage nursing is a competitive marketplace these days. Explore online training options that can give you an edge.