Telephone Triage Nurse: Career, Training, & Certification

Telephone Triage Nurse

Many doctor’s offices or other health clinics, particularly those that are part of a larger health management organization, will have a telephone system set up for those patients who may not have the time to get in to see a doctor in person as quickly as they would like. This differs from a health advice line, because a telephone triage nurse will be highly specialized and qualified to diagnose a patient’s problems over the phone. Requiring years of experience and sharp communication skills, this is a nursing position that is not for everyone. However, the benefits to the public are clear, with waiting room times through the roof in some HMO’s and other health clinics.
 
Salary Outlook

Salaries will depend on experience and education levels of the nurse.
 
Average Annual Salary
$58,195
 
Salary Range
$53,238-$64,193
 
Work Environment

A telephone triage nurse will need to be able to sit for long periods of time in a call center environment, with close computer contact and making decisions independently. He or she will need to be able to type comfortably at a rapid pace, and be able to talk and make contact with the patient using the telephone alone. They may find employment in managed health care programs, at home health care programs, as part of a larger hospital environment, or through independent physician’s own needs.
 
Requirements

Most positions require that nurses are not only licensed as registered nurses (with either a diploma or BSN degree) but have approximately five years of clinical experience. This experience is vital for a position as a telephone triage nurse, because the nurse must be able to diagnose problems without the benefit of seeing the patient in person. This requires a high level of communication ability that can be taught through supplemental courses. There is a specialty certification that is offered and required in some states, and is determined by examinations after 2000 hours of practice and experience.

Career Outlook

While more and more people are in need of healthcare these days as they age, in today’s busy society many find that they simply don’t have the time to pay visits to the doctor as often as they would like to. This means that the need for tele-nursing is only set to increase in the coming years. The healthcare industry in general is due for some major growth in the next decade, with job opportunities expected to grow in leaps and bounds. Telephone triage nursing is no exception, and could be one of the hotter careers within this field.
 
Professional Organizations
 
Emergency Nurses Association
915 Lee Street
Des Plaines, IL 60016-6569
Phone: (800) 900-9659
www.ena.org
 
American Nurses Association
8515 Georgia Avenue
Suite 400
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3492
Phone: (301) 628-5000
www.nursingworld.org