Triage Nurse

Job Summary: The Triage Nurse is responsible for telephone triage. Parent education.  Providing professional nursing assessments, prioritize treatments according to the urgency of need for medical card.  This position includes but is not limited to quality patient care, medical chart documentation, maintaining compliance, equipment and environment of care safety.  This individual will provide clinical assistance to all health care providers working in the practice following established standards, practices and protocols.  Performs all other tasks assigned by the Nurse Manager or Practice Manager. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Evaluate patient symptoms. Be able to determine what type of an appointment and level of care the child will need.  Utilize established protocols to make treatment recommendations.
• Responds to and refers incoming telephone calls.
• Parent/Guardian education and counseling under the direct supervision of the physician or nurse practitioner.
• Accurate medical record documentation such as patient vitals, tests, examination results etc.
• Contact other offices or hospitals to obtain medical reports/results and/or retrieve from appropriate platforms.
• In-put lab data into the computer.  Retrieve lab results. Call parents/guardians with lab results.
• Schedule appointments for sick, well, consult, follow-up and all appointment types.
• Schedule referrals to other physician offices or faculties. Pre-certification or prior authorization of referrals, medications and medical equipment. 
• Complete forms timely for shot records, work permits, physical forms, daycare, medication forms etc.
• Call/send prescription refills to pharmacy in a timely manner.
• Fill if for floor nurses when necessary. 
• Performs general nursing care to patients including parent and patient education, obtaining history, vital signs, and administering prescribed medications, vaccines and treatments in accordance with accepted nursing standards.
• Assists with the preparation of equipment and aids physicians during treatment, examination, and testing of patients.
• Observes, records, and reports patient’s condition and reaction to drugs and treatments to physicians.
• Maintains timely flow of patients.
• Greets patients and prepares them for physician examination.  Accurately gather and record patient history.   
• Instructs patients in collection of samples and tests.
• Responsible for preparation of exam rooms including re-stocking of supplies and gathering necessary equipment for procedures.
• Attends required meetings and participates in committees as requested.  Provides training to other clinical and administrative staff as requested.
• Participates in professional development activities and maintains professional affiliations.
• Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA regulations.
• Provides excellent customer service.
• Performs related work as required for business operations.
• Performs lab quality controls within COLA Standards.
• Performs laboratory testing, enters lab results accurately, and understands trouble shooting for laboratory procedures.
• Additional duties as assigned to meet the needs of business operations.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Must possess knowledge of the principles and skills needed for practical nursing to provide patient care and treatment.
• Organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Time management skills.
• Ability to prioritize tasks.
• Knowledge of examination, diagnostic and treatment room procedures.
• Knowledge of medications and their effects on patients.
• Ability to educate patients and develop self-care programs. 
•  Understanding of common safety hazards and precautions to maintain a safe work environment.
• Skill in administering a variety of treatments and medications as directed.
•  Skill in using various types of equipment for examination, diagnostic, and treatment procedures.
• Skill in maintaining records and writing reports.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with patients, families, co-workers and the public.
• Ability to maintain quality control standards and to react calmly and effectively in emergency situations.
• Valid driver’s license.

Education and Experience:

• Degree from an accredited school of practical nursing.  
• Must have current, unrestricted, State Registered Nurse license or Licensed Practice Nurse and CPR certification.
• Keep current on Illinois CEU’s for RN or LPN license requirements. 
• Nursing experience preferred. 

Equipment Used:

• Pediatric examination, diagnostic and treatment equipment. 

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None

Interaction:

Individual may interact with patients, families, co-workers and the general public.  May expect exposure to communicable diseases, toxic substances, and medicinal preparations.  May require individuals to work in outside elements to provide patient care due to business needs. 

Physical Requirements:

Requires full range of body motion as well as manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination.    May require lifting or carrying items weighing up to 30 pounds.  May require working under stressful conditions or irregular hours on occasion.

Employer’s Rights:

This job description does not list all the duties of the job. You may be asked by your Managers to perform other duties. You will be evaluated in part based upon your performance of the tasks listed in this job description. CareCloud, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries have the right to revise this job description at any time. The job description is not a contract for employment and you or CareCloud, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries may terminate employment at any time, with or without cause and with or without notice.