Required Education
ADN or BSN
Attributes
Independent
Work on your own or even start your own practice, in some states.
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.
Varied
Take on different tasks, patients, and situations every day.
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
Education
You’ll teach patients how to manage their symptoms.
Information
You’ll keep up to date with the latest medical record technology.
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.
Support
You’ll assist medical response teams in getting patients admitted into hospitals.
Where you’ll work
- 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
01
Get an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
02
Pass the NCLEX-RN.
03
Work as a Registered Nurse.
Gain 2,000 hours of experience in a clinical setting.
04
Pass the Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification exam through the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing.
05
You’re ready to work as a Telephone Triage Nurse.
Join an Organization
Become a member of a Telephone Triage Nurse organization to find career opportunities, learn from your colleagues, and support the profession.
An Ambulatory Nurse’s role is also independent.
A Critical Care Nurse is another type of emergency nurse.
