What is a Phone Triage Nurse?

A phone triage nurse is a certified health-care professional who answers calls from people who are experiencing adverse symptoms, but are not sure if they should seek in-person treatment. A professional relies on his or her expert nursing knowledge to assess the severity of a person's ailments and determine the need for further care. Most phone triage nurses are employed by hospitals, though some work in call centers that serve as overflow or after-hours response centers for many different clinics and private practices. Phone triage nursing is a very helpful service for doctors and hospital staff, as knowledgeable workers can significantly reduce unnecessary appointments and emergency room overcrowding.

In a typical call center, a phone triage nurse sits at a computer desk with a hands-free phone headset. When a call comes in, the nurse answers and obtains very basic information about the nature of the call. If it is apparent that a person is in danger or a great deal of pain, the nurse transfers the call to an emergency response service. After ruling out an emergency situation, the phone triage nurse gathers details about the patient's gender, age, and general concern. The job can be stressful at times, and nurses must be able to speak calmly and clearly to gather information from sometimes frantic callers.

While speaking with a patient, the nurse enters data into a specialized computer program that helps him or her determine the most appropriate questions to ask about symptoms. The phone triage nurse can usually follow the computer's prompts exactly, working through a list of questions that need to be addressed. It is still very important for the nurse to analyze answers as they come in, however, so that he or she can assess subjective and nonverbal responses that might suggest a serious condition. By gathering accurate information, the nurse can determine if a caller needs to set an appointment, visit an emergency room, or treat a condition at home.

A person who is interested in becoming a phone triage nurse can look into specific entry requirements in his or her region. Most workers are required to hold associate's or bachelor's degrees, pass registered nurse certification exams, and gain experience in other nursing settings. Many employers prefer to hire triage nurses who have several years of practical, hands-on nursing experience to ensure they will be capable of quickly understanding and addressing caller concerns. In addition, many national organizations provide voluntary certification courses for prospective phone triage nurses to help them improve their credentials.

A successful phone triage nurse may be able to advance within a hospital or call center to a supervisory position. As a supervisor, a nurse trains new workers and conducts regular performance reviews to ensure that callers are receiving quality information. Some experienced phone triage nurses assume administrative positions, wherein they help to develop more efficient protocols and training materials.