Registered Nurse, Triage

About This Role

Caring for patients by monitoring and returning calls and communications related to their care, consulting with physicians and APPs when appropriate, is the core of this Triage Nurse role. The nurse must recognize physical, psychological, and spiritual aspects of care and accurately identify patients with high-risk conditions. This role supports all triage processes within the RN scope of practice as defined by the TN Board of Nursing and TN ONC policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Address patient calls, portal messages, tasks, and emails concerning a wide range of symptom/side effect related and other patient care topics in a timely manner
• Ask appropriate, open-ended questions utilizing TN ONC approved algorithms/pathways to assist in the assessment of patient’s symptom and side effect management inquiries
• Document recommended/actual interventions
• Recognize changes in the patient's status and need for care
• Assess urgency of patient symptoms/side effects and address them appropriately, aggressively managing them to prevent unnecessary emergency department and hospital utilization
• Respond to emergency situations/calls and coordinate care/EMS response as necessary
• Collaborate with physicians via electronic communication, face to face, or the telephone to discuss patient care needs that cannot be independently and appropriately addressed using standing orders or practice protocols
• Collaborate with the scheduling team based on patient need and triage interventions to set up same day and/or future provider/infusion room appointments to address symptom management concerns
• Provide clear education to patients and caregivers including verifying understanding of instructions/plan
• Counsel patients, family, and/or caregiver about side effects of medication, therapy, applicable referrals, as well as available community resources
• Notify patients of normal and/or stable lab/test results or abnormal lab/test results after collaboration with the provider on needed interventions if any
• Apply critical thinking and astute clinical judgment while evaluating patients
• Encourage patient compliance with supportive and treatment regimens
• Promote patient self‑care responsibility for meeting their own health needs
• Identify and accommodate patient disabilities and limitations
• Access resources for interpretive services and/or other needed accommodations
• Adapt personal communication style to meet the needs of the patient and/or other customers in diverse personal, professional, cultural, and socio‑economic backgrounds
• Assist with prior authorization for prescription refills if needed
• Coordinate triage efforts with Front Office, Nursing, Patient Advocates/Financial Counselors, Pharmacy and/or other departments to ensure effective/efficient communication to meet patient needs