Triage Nurse - Pediatric (4642)

Triage Nurse - Pediatric

Salary Range $35.00 - $49.42 Hourly Position Type Full Time Education Level RN License

Position Summary

The Triage Registered Nurse (RN) plays a key role in supporting providers and delivering direct patient care within a patient-centered, team-based environment. This position ensures safe, efficient, and compassionate service for patients and their families. In this role, the RN performs a wide range of clinical duties, as well as manages switchboard responsibilities and responds promptly to incoming calls from patients seeking guidance for questions or health concerns. The nurse must multitask effectively while assessing patient needs, offering evidence-based nursing advice, determining the need for Emergency Department referral, scheduling appointments, and documenting all interactions accurately within the electronic health record. Relevant information is forwarded to providers as necessary to support continuity and quality of care. Additional responsibilities include telephone and face-to-face assessments, hospital follow-up coordination, overnight triage follow-ups, processing medication refills and prior authorizations, completing nursing tasks and procedures, responding to codes, and providing coverage in clinical areas when staffing shortages occur.

This role requires strong clinical judgment, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to delivering patient-centered care. All clinical tasks and procedures are performed within the RN scope of practice as defined by the Nurse Practice Act and in full compliance with Board of Registration regulations. The RN is expected to consistently demonstrate competency in all required skills.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Demonstrates characteristics of accountability and responsibility.

• Is reliable and dependable as demonstrated by excellent attendance, punctuality, and thorough follow through of work tasks.

• Maintains patient confidentiality at all times.

• Maintains discretion of conversation in work areas.

• Is pleasant, courteous, and considerate of patients and co-workers.

• Demonstrates ability to prioritize demands, work with distractions, adapt to change, exercise efficient time management, and work independently.

• Maintains appropriate chain of command.

• Attends meetings.

• Tasks – including but not limited to:

• Patient preparation for visit.

• Appropriately prepare patient for either a complete physical, sick visit, follow up visit; or a gynecological exam.

• Vital Signs: blood pressure, temperature, pulse (all points), orthostatic blood pressure and pulse.

• Obtain interpretation when needed.

• Chart documentation.

• Measurements: Height, Weight, and (other measurements as needed).

• Documentation of reason for visit, medication review, allergy review.

• Documentation of medication review.

• Patient tests/treatments.

• Audio acuity testing.

• Ear irrigation.

• Electrocardiogram (EKG).

• Visual acuity testing.

• Injections – Intramuscular (I.M.); subcutaneous (S.C), Intradermal (I.D.);

• Z-track.

• Intravenous (I.V.) therapy.

• Medication administration.

• Dose calculations.

• Peak flow meter.

• Oxygen saturation.

• Nebulizer treatment.

• Oxygen administration.

• Laboratory Tests

• CLIA Waived Tests

• Pap Smear handling

• Patient Procedures.

• Physical and emotional assessment.

• Wound care.

• Assisting providers.

• Maintaining sterile field and sterile technique.

• Burn care.

• Diabetic care.

• Ace wraps/splints/slings/braces.

• Colposcopy.

• Biopsies.

• Suture removal.

• Staple removal

• Other Patient Services.

• Patient education.

• Prescription refill.

• Telephone Triage.

• Walk-in Triage.

• Other related phone calls.

• Referrals.

• Appointments.

• Nurse visits.

• Documentation.

• Hospital discharge follow-up.

• May be designated "Charge nurse" in the absence of the full-time charge nurse

• Care of Equipment.

• Proper handling, cleaning, and storage of all equipment. Cold sterilization. The Registered Nurse is part of the patient care team as defined by Patient Centered Medical Home structure Participation includes but is not limited to: Overseeing completion of patient centered work by nursing staff assigned to their floor Delegating follow-up of patient hospital discharges to other nursing staff in the absence of the assigned nurse. Assists with hospital discharges as needed in order to maintain compliance with following-up on hospital discharges within forty-eight (48) business hours. Monitor reports for completion of care Other tasks as assigned. Participates in huddles, for daily pre visit planning

• QUALITY ASSURANCE/IMPROVEMENT: Quality assurance monitoring – participates in the betterment of the health center through studies and reviews as necessary. Goal setting – assess personal, team, and organization goals. Participates in devising, reviewing, and revising policies, procedures and protocols.

• TEAMWORK ORIENTATION:

• Maintains and encourages teamwork approach.

• Flexibility – maintains flexibility in employee time schedule, duties, and procedural functions.

• Maintains consistent effort to further goals by modifying and/or improving individual procedures and tasks.

• Conflict Management –

• Demonstrates and implements effective problem solving.

• Identifies task and operational problems.

• Generates solutions, discuss solutions with charge nurse or Director of Nursing and implements as directed by charge nurse or Director of Nursing.

• Manages conflict with staff appropriately.

• Maintains and encourages good communication skills.

• Gives directions to L.P.N.s, Medical Assistants and ancillary staff as needed.

• Participates in orientation and training of new staff and/or students.

Qualifications

Graduate of an accredited school of nursing. Current state licensure to practice in Massachusetts. Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (C.P.R.) certified. Maintains licensure and certifications. Bilingual preferred

MINIMAL KNOWLEDGE BASE: Demonstrates knowledge of:

• Nursing principles include disease process, certain examinations, observations, laboratory studies and appropriately apply these principles to patient care.

• Nurse Practice Act/Code of Ethics.

• Nursing Process.

• Managed Care.