Do I have enough experience?

Fonenurse · Dec 8, 2008

I think it will depend on how you feel about your experience and what job you are applying for, but working in ED and also onc will have shown you a good slice of life. It may be worth asking the people you want to apply to - after all, they know what they are looking for - look on job adverts to see what they are looking for....

Jerry 75 · Aug 28, 2009

Ann this is a response to an earlier query which will have the info you need on it. Do you work at Zion? Are you already in the KP system?

Your credentials especially ED should suffice to get you into the job.

Telephone triage with KP on call in both southern as well as Northern Cali. It is a union position and you keep your seniority as well as vacation and sick leave accrued when you transfer over. You will be a level 2 Nurse though not level; 3 (big deal like $1,000) difference.

I worked ED for 12 years Telephone triage x 6yrs 3 1/2 years at home Remote!!!

It is different. Your not walking around all the time

Interactions with Dr.s I may contact 3 a nite? For maybe 30 seconds!

You never deal with visitors!!!

Never have to wash your hands

No risk of needle sticks

No one coughing in your face!

No lifting

You get used to multi tasking. I tell my post op patient I will consult with Surgeon and call him back I hang up with him call Riverside medical center or where ever I page SOD then hang up awaiting his CB in the meantime I have to take another call in the middle of the call I get interrupted by SOD calling back and have to put present pt. on hold, get to my other pt. chart and taklk to the doc. write down what he said reconnect with present pt. finish him then reopen 1st chart call back post op pt. give him doc instructions , hang up and finish chart

Stess is everywhere in Nursing thats whats so great about there being so many different specialties to escape to!!

I like it especially working at home! On my break I swim in my pool! I would not go back to direct patient care!

sallynRN · Sep 25, 2009

"Do I have enough experience?" I would think it depends on the company you work for, etc. I'm a brand-spankin' new ADRN, and I just got hired at a large group medical practice to do telephone triage. I was told by the hiring mgr. that this will be a great place to "hone" my assessment skills. I've read a lot of posts where people suggest you have at least a couple of years experience, and that telephone triage is not the place for a new grad, but thankfully my soon-to-be employer feels differently.

G'smommy · Sep 27, 2009

I would say you have plenty of experience. Go for it!

caliotter3 · Sep 27, 2009

Someone I once worked with was an advice nurse for KP. Not only was she not an RN (LVN), but she also had no experience with this. She was hired and they trained her on the job. She said that she realized that she was very lucky that they even hired her. I think you have enough experience. Just go ahead and try to get the position. Good luck.

kittykatty · Sep 27, 2009

"Do I have enough experience?" I would think it depends on the company you work for, etc. I'm a brand-spankin' new ADRN, and I just got hired at a large group medical practice to do telephone triage. I was told by the hiring mgr. that this will be a great place to "hone" my assessment skills. I've read a lot of posts where people suggest you have at least a couple of years experience, and that telephone triage is not the place for a new grad, but thankfully my soon-to-be employer feels differently.

HI Sally RN I am a new grad too and I would love to do telephone triage--I am so glad to hear that you got hired with no experience--good luck to you--I am on the east coast and I was wondering if you could give me any pointers on how to land a job thanks

Jerry 75 · Sep 28, 2009

I have been a TMS at a call center for over 6 years. I do not think this is a good place too put a new Nurse fresh out of school. Managers who do this are using poor judgement and shows tht that call center is very shoprt of Nurses and willing to hire anyone with an RN.

The clinical data base that you have to draw from is immense. You have to be able to deal with geriatric/peds/ob-gyn/trauma/cardio/neuro/respiratory/oncology/post op. Your history taking/interview techniques have to be sharp. You have to be very perceptive and good at reading patients.

To go right from school to Telephone triage presents both a diservice to the patient s well as to yourself! Start out in Med surg get a general background of different disease pathologies and meds then after a year or 2 consider telephone triage.

sallynRN · Oct 3, 2009

HI Sally RN I am a new grad too and I would love to do telephone triage--I am so glad to hear that you got hired with no experience--good luck to you--I am on the east coast and I was wondering if you could give me any pointers on how to land a job thanks

Hi kittykatty! I'm on the east coast too (MA). I'm not sure I can give you any pointers on how to land a job..... I stumbled upon this job because my sister is a pt. at the practice, and she saw on their website that they were hiring. Perhaps you could look up large/group medical practices in your area, and see if any of them have open positions posted, or contact the HR Directors directly. Good luck!

sallynRN · Oct 3, 2009

I have been a TMS at a call center for over 6 years. I do not think this is a good place too put a new Nurse fresh out of school. Managers who do this are using poor judgement and shows tht that call center is very shoprt of Nurses and willing to hire anyone with an RN.
The clinical data base that you have to draw from is immense. You have to be able to deal with geriatric/peds/ob-gyn/trauma/cardio/neuro/respiratory/oncology/post op. Your history taking/interview techniques have to be sharp. You have to be very perceptive and good at reading patients.
To go right from school to Telephone triage presents both a diservice to the patient s well as to yourself! Start out in Med surg get a general background of different disease pathologies and meds then after a year or 2 consider telephone triage.

I won't be in a "call center," if that makes a difference. I'll be in the adult internal medicine dept. of a group medical practice (so no pedi - they have their own triage nurses). I will have 8 weeks of training, and the support of the other nurses as well as the physicians if I come across something I'm unsure of. Starting out in Med-Surg is easier said than done in the current economy/job market -- there are NO hospitals in my area hiring inexperienced new grads at this time - NONE! And, nobody can say when they will start hiring again.

Maybe they ARE hiring me because they're "willing to hire anyone with an RN," but I'd like to think that my background of 15+ years in customer service, as well as my exemplary work ethic, 3.82 GPA, and glowing recommendations from my instructors have something to do with me getting the job as well.

tewdles, RN · Oct 6, 2009

Hello, good luck...I would say that you have plenty of experience...go for it. You will receive training and will likely have triage algorythms to guide you. Sounds like a nice change.