- Nursing
- Nursing specialties
- Telephone triage nurse
Telephone triage nurse
A telephone triage or telehealth nurse helps patients over the phone or via video chat.
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Required education
ADN or BSN
Varied
Take on different tasks, patients, and situations every day.
Out-of-hospital
Treat patients in their homes, during travel, or other non-hospital environments.
Structured
Follow a routine that allows you to anticipate and prepare for every situation.
Independent
Work on your own or even start your own practice, in some states.
What is the role of a telephone triage nurse?
You’ll assess a patient’s case and help them decide whether they need to go to the emergency room, see a doctor, or treat themselves.
What you’ll do as a telephone triage nurse
Education
You’ll teach patients how to manage their symptoms.
Investigation
You’ll ask pertinent questions and access each patient’s file online to assess their case and refer them to a healthcare professional if necessary.
Information
You’ll keep up to date with the latest medical record technology.
Support
You’ll assist medical response teams in getting patients admitted into hospitals.
Where you’ll work as a telephone triage nurse
Telephone triage nurses work in a variety of settings, including:
- Clinics
- Crisis hotlines
- Doctors’ offices
- Managed care
- Outpatient care centers
- Poison control centers
- Telephone triage centers
- Trauma centers
How to become a telephone triage nurse
Get an Associate’s Degrees in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
When considering a future nursing career, it’s important to explore the different nursing programs available and the paths they offer. With various options like associate degree programs, bachelor’s degree programs, and direct-entry master’s degree programs, prospective students can choose the educational path that best suits their goals and interests.
Pass the NCLEX-RN and work as a Registered Nurse.
The National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) is the all-important step between graduating from nursing school and becoming a nurse. It’s a standardized test, set by the Board of Nursing in each state, that makes sure you have the knowledge and skills you need to work in the field of nursing.
Work as a Registered Nurse, gaining 2,000 hours of experience in a clinical setting.
Pass the Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification exam through the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing.
You’re ready to work as a telephone triage nurse!
Related nursing specialties
Ambulatory care nurse
An ambulatory care nurse provides pain management and general health education to patients, in non-emergency situations, outside of a hospital environment.
Critical care nurse
A critical care or ICU nurse takes care of patients who are in a critical condition or recovering from a serious medical condition.