What is Telephone Triage Nursing?
According to Johnson & Johnson, telephone triage nursing is also called telehealth nursing. These nurses advice patients over the phone, using their nursing expertise. Telephone triage nurses often work in telephone triage call centers and for insurance companies.
These nurses, based on the client’s answers to a set of questions, advise him or her on whether or not to seek further medical care and what kind of medical care is necessary (i.e. emergency room, family doctor, or specialist).
Johnson & Johnson states that typical daily tasks for these nurses include assisting patients over the phone, scheduling appointments, referring patients to specialists, and educating patients on managing their symptoms.
What are the Education and Certification Requirements?
In order to become a telephone triage nurse, one must earn a diploma, associate’s degree, or bachelor’s degree from an accredited nursing program. After graduation, he or she must pass the NCLEX-RN and apply for a license. Any additional courses on emergency medicine, crisis management, and poison control are useful in this specialty. There is no additional certification for telehealth nursing.
What is the Average Salary of a Telephone Triage Nurse?
The salary of a telephone triage nurse is likely to depend on geographic location, employer, and the individual’s education and experience level. While it is difficult to give an accurate salary estimate for this nursing specialization, the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) reported that the median wage for registered nurses in 2012 was $65,470.
What is the Job Outlook?
The employment outlook for telephone triage nurses, specifically, is unknown, but the BLS states that the outlook for registered nursing is positive. The BLS predicts 19% job growth from 2012-2022.
