thetank

Don't despair, you're still a newbie. It takes a long time to settle into triage nursing. With each call you will build your knowledge base and confidence. Take notes if you need to and trust in yourself. It's a very tough job, and it takes a long time to get used to it. I've been at it for 3.5 years and I'm still learning every day.

Yes, it's very different. How long have you been a triage nurse? Do you have a protocol to work from?

So true. Very very stressful.

Thanks for your reply. We've been asking for scripts to deal with rude callers, but mgmt has not responded. We've been working directly with the providers on this too. I think it might be getting a little better. My own attitude has changed as well. I've really been working on it.

So true. Focusing on the positive is the name of the game. I work at a large clinic for a family medicine / internal medicine / pediatrics group with 15 providers. There are four of us who work as triage RNs.

Hi there, Well, I like it when I actually get to do triage calls. I do not like it when people call us for directions to the office, to schedule office visits, to get narcotics refills, etc. I like the fast pace, I like the challenge of a difficult triage call. Even after doing this for 3.5 years, I still miss face to face contact with patients...but I do NOT miss the craziness of floor nursing. I will never ever return to floor nursing - too much stress, terrible ratios, crazy management. I work 8 AM to 5 PM M-F, and Sat 8-noon every 6-8 weeks or so. Mondays and Fridays are our heavy days, Tues Wed Thurs are a little lighter. You have to have a thick skin because patients can be really rude...but most patients are super nice.

Wow DorothyMay, transfer to the police? Nice. We are allowed to hang up on rude callers after giving them a warning too. Do you have certain scripts that you say when patients start getting rude?

I hear you Cape47 - great analogy. Yep, back to back calls are not a big deal...but having someone who has never done actual triage listen in, now that would be a challenge.

I've been an RN for 23 years, background in pediatrics, home care, family practice, internal medicine. This is my all day job, I work with 4 other telephone triage RNs in a large PCP office.

Any updates on this thread? What is Medcor?

How do you like it? I am not familiar with Lifehealth.

Well, I have to agree with BassCatchingNurse, it all depends. Telephone triage nursing is not easy...but it might be a nice change for you. I really like it when I get actual triage calls. I really don't like it when opioid-addicted patients curse and yell at me. I love my co-workers. I wish we had the option to work from home, but our manager is an *******, so that's never going to happen. It's not a noisy assembly-line hurry up environment, but I work in a large doctor's office. We can use the bathroom when we want to, we take one hour long uninterrupted lunches, and we work 8-5, no weekends, no holidays.

Thank you for replying. Of course they are nice until they are told no, then they are evil. Yep, I hate the overly nice ones too, they are Jekyll and Hyde. We keep praying for a new manager, but she's been there 5 years, don't think she's going anywhere. I've been watching for an opening within the network. I've not considered utilization review. What is that?

You are right fibroblast.

I work for a large family medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine practice. There are 5 triage nurses, and we answer for 15 providers. We're connected to a big hospital corporation, I don't work from home.