RN Triage Nurse-Walk in Center

Family Health Center of Worcester, Inc.; Worcester (MA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Family Health Center of Worcester, Inc. is seeking a Triage RN to deliver nursing care in a family practice/urgent care setting. You will follow evidence-based triage protocols, provide health care advice, and coordinate services to ensure patients receive timely care.

The role emphasizes clear communication, coordination with interpreters as needed, and ongoing documentation in the EHR to support safe, patient-centered care in a walk-in center environment.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing; RN licensure in MA required; BSN preferred.
• Must be licensed as an RN by the Massachusetts State Board; BLS required.
• Two years of nursing experience, with at least one year in telephone triage in ambulatory family practice preferred.
• Experience working in an EMR environment.

Responsibilities

• Triages patients using Lippincott triage manuals to provide evidence-based recommendations, education and self-management support.
• Communicates with patients in a manner that builds trust and confidence.
• Arranges interpreter services as needed based on language requirements.
• Demonstrates competent clinical judgment and uses Lippincott protocols.
• Assesses patients by primary complaint and prioritizes urgency per protocols.
• Follows up on abnormal labs and patient requests with team nurses and providers.
• Schedules appointments and arranges immediate care through primary care, walk-in/urgent care or ER as appropriate.
• Ensures patient needs are met and documents patient understanding or refusal of plan.
• Follows documentation policy in the patient's EHR.

Skills

Telephone triage

EMR experience

Clear patient communication

Care coordination

Evidence-based triage protocols

Education

BS in Nursing preferred

RN licensure MA

BLS certification

Tools

Lippincott Triage Manuals

EMR / EHR systems

Job description

The Triage RN is responsible for providing nursing care, in a family practice/urgent care setting. The Triage Nurse will adhere to evidence based nursing triage protocols, with the goal of providing each patient with the care he/she needs, at the time he/she needs it. The Triage Nurse will provide health care advice, and assist in the coordination of other health care services.

Program Specific Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Triages patients utilizing the appropriate “Lippincott Triage Manuals” for evidence based recommendations, providing triage, education & self-management support as needed.
• Utilizes care in communications to foster the patient's trust & confidence.
• Arranges for the use of Interpreter staff as required based on primary language needs.
• Demonstrates competent clinical/professional judgment, in addition to the use of “Lippincott” protocols.
• Sorts through multiple patient cues to focus on the primary patient complaint or issue.
• Assesses all patients using three specific criteria: 1.) clinical priority/acuity, 2.) the need for self-care guidance or guidance for the parent or guardian, 3.) the need for anticipatory guidance based upon the patient’s health, behavior and developmental level. Assesses presenting signs/symptoms prioritizing urgency based on assessment and use of protocols.
• Follows-up on abnormal labs and other patient requests by communicating with Team Nurses and Providers to facilitate the appropriate care.
• Schedules appointments and arranges for immediate care through Primary Care, Same Day/Walk-In/Urgent Care, or the ER, as appropriate.
• Ensures that patient needs are met; documents patients understanding & agreement with plan, or if the patients is refusing the recommended triage advice.
• Follows protocol and documents in the patient’s EHR, following the documentation policy.

Supervisory Responsibility:

May be asked to provide guidance to LPNs, medical assistants or non-clinical Call Center staff by providing direction with protocols to facilitate patient care.

Qualifications and Education Requirements:

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing; required BS in nursing preferred
• Must be licensed as a RN by the Massachusetts State Board of Registration
• BLS required
• Two years full time or part time equivalent nursing experience, with at least one year of telephone triage experience in an ambulatory health care of family practice setting preferred.
• Must have experience working in an EMR environment
• Reports directly to the Medical Director of the Walk in Center