Question about working from home

Specialties Triage

Published

Hello everyone:

I was wondering exactly how the telephone triage works when you work from home. Are you at your computer the whole time or are you able to walk around the house?

I currently work 2 days a week in the NICU which I enjoy very much. I do not want to go back full time because I have a 14 month old and will likely have another baby in the next year or so. I would like to supplement my income from home if possible. I have been looking into various options such as medical transcription and telephone triage.

Thanks!!!

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Specializes in tele triage/advice for 9 yrs.

I work from home doing telephone triage/advice and yes, you are TIED to your computer. I wear a headset that is linked to my computer. Since you have to type as well as assess and give advice you have to be physically in touch w/your computer. The only time you can leave is for your scheduled breaks. All of our conversations are taped and some are 'screen captured" and our supervisors, in the office can see all our activities at any given time. I hope this helps :heartbeat:nurse:

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That does help.

Thanks!!!!!

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Specializes in ER, Psych, Telephone Triage.

Ifyou can be comfortable sitting for 8 hrs and you can stretch all you want but other then 2 -15 minute breaks, 1 30 minute lunch nd 3 5 minute pee breaks you are attached to your head phone and watching your monitor!

But you never have to wash your hands, never get needle sticks, no body fluid precautions, don't deal with annoying visitors...................................................

And on my break I swim in my pool or play with my dogs!

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I work from home also. I love it! You are tied to the computer and get breaks and lunch. Calls may be monitired. If planning to do this you need to understand this is NOT something you can do while caring for your child. You also must have a quiet environment as the head phone will pick up any noise and your office space must be HIPPA compliant. You cannot be providing child care, elder care and your pets must be quiet. Please also realize you are socially isolated from your peers. If it is not busy you are just sitting staring at a computer. I break the monotony by using my personal computer to surf the web. I do not advise using the work computer to do so as anything you are doing when a call comes in is recorded and if you are being "shadowed" the perosn watching can see what you are doing. So dont balance your checkbook on your work computer. It is not for everyone but if you can live with those constraints then go for it. I am in my 3rd year as an advice line/triage nurse.

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Specializes in ER, Psych, Telephone Triage.

I don't miss being around co workers at all. I love the piece and quiet and comfort of my home to work. I don't have to eat in the breakroom, watch TV or swim on my break who could ask for more. Alos the work enviornment is not a healthy one,. I hve never seen sop much obesity in my co workers as I have seen at this job. Also soda nd candy machines, celebrations with cakes and crap food. We are supposed to know about the dangers of por nutrition and lecture patients about it yet don't seem concered about taking that advice personally!

They should remove the food machines and pout in a stationary bike and tread mill! Promote health not Obesity!

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Specializes in NICU and travel nursing.

May I ask who you work for? I am currently researching this, I am also a NICU nurse for 4 years....

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I am able to get up and walk around. My calls come via fax and I return them. I can hear my fax machine ring when I have a call. I do laundry, watch movies, etc between calls. That being said, my protocols aren't as vigorous as many here, so I don't spend as much time on the phone as they do.

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Specializes in rehab.

can LPN's get into telephone/triage nursing??

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G'smommy- what company do you work for. Your job sounds just like what I'm looking for to supplement my part-time hospital job but allow me to stay at home a little more. And I don't want anything too stressfull.... I get that enough between working in a float pool and having 2 young kids.

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I work for a Children's Hospital, but I know there are companies that allow nurses to do what I do. Fonemed is one of them.

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I would like to know the best companies to get in touch with for at home nursing also. My daughter is a nurse as well as me but she has some recent health problems making it difficult to work on her feet on the surgical floor all day. Thanks

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