Triage Nurse - Clinic

Additional Job Description:

Job Description Summary

The professional registered nurse has the authority, responsibility, and shift accountability for the delivery of nursing care through the use of the nursing process. The Triage Nurse accepts accountability, applies competent clinical knowledge skills, and uses independent nursing judgment for care provided by self and by health care providers to whom care is delegated to achieve quality patient care outcomes. The Triage Nurse must demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care that is relevant to the patient(s) under their care, as well as apply principles of growth and development over the life span. The Triage Nurse also must possess the ability to assess and interpret patient data needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his or her age-specific needs. The triage nurse provides patient care by conducting patient and family assessments via the phone in accordance with protocol, researching clinical situations in order to educate the caller on the seriousness of the situation, and directing patient care in a defined period of time to be delivered to the patient's home or in any other appropriate clinical setting.

Job Description

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND/OR LICENSURE:

1. Current licensure as a Registered Nurse in state of practice.

2. Obtain certification in Basic Life Support within 30 days of hire date.

EXPERIENCE:

1. Three years of nursing experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

EXPERIENCE:

1. Prior triage nursing or Ambulatory nursing.

CORE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:The statements described here are intended to describe the general nature of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be constructed as an all-inclusive list of all responsibilities and duties. Other duties may be assigned.

1. Provides patient care by answering patient calls and triaging the call in accordance with established protocols to support the primary provider's practice, which allows for clinical decision-making by the nurse.

2. Assesses the actual caller to determine the callers understanding of the seriousness and extent of the patient's current condition and the caller's ability to carry out all instructions by the triage and advice staff.

3. Notifies the patient's on-call physician, reviews telephone assessment and obtains follow-up orders.

4. Assists with completion of healthcare related paperwork (i.e. LOA, FMLA, return to work/school, etc.).

5. Ensures patient safety by triaging patients appropriately to ensure safe, quality patient care in the most cost-appropriate setting, and to ensure notification to the covered physician/practice/insurer by supplying timely documentation on the patient's disposition.

6. Responds to calls from patients and family members in a professional and timely manner and assesses the caller's needs to determine the seriousness and extent of the patient's conditions, concerns and current or progressive patient status.

7. Demonstrates the appropriate use of standards, effective use of resources, and evaluation of patient response in the delivery of patient care.

8. Uses standards of care and standards of practice to guide care delivery.

9. Bases decisions made/actions taken on relevant scientific principles, established standards of care and/or research findings. Seeks assistance/credible resource when unable to perform safely and independently.

10. If within the clinic setting, may be asked at times to provide direct patient care, based on the nursing process and within role/scope of practice.

11. Performs preliminary assessment of patients through observation and chart review to facilitate appropriate follow-up with health care team.

12. Evaluates unstable or complex patient care situations and facilitates appropriate intervention.

13. Implements appropriate clinical decisions and demonstrates appropriate use of expert peers and/or management, as applicable.

14. Accepts accountability and uses independent nursing judgment for care provided by self and by health care providers to who care is delegated.

15. Interacts with various members of the health care team to meet patient care needs.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Work requires strength and/or stamina, lifting, moving, stooping, reaching, positioning of patients, standing, walking, carrying of patients, materials and equipment weighing 40+lbs.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Working closely with others.

2. Working around biohazards.

3. Working around infectious diseases.

4. Working with hands in water.

5. Electrical hazards associated with patient care equipment.

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

Shift:

Exempt/Non-Exempt:

Company:

Cost Center:

Address:

Equal Opportunity Employer

West Virginia University Health System and its subsidiaries (collectively "WVUHS") is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. WVUHS strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. All WVUHS employees, other workers, and representatives are prohibited from engaging in unlawful discrimination. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, training, promotion, discipline, compensation, benefits, and termination of employment.