More info about tele trisge nursing

MA Nurse · Aug 17, 2017

I work day shift 32 hours a week for a major HMO. I get 40 calls in 8 hrs. it's back to back non-stop calls. barely a break in between calls. Lots of multitasking and thinking. It can be very stressful. Sometimes nurses get anxiety from being stuck at a desk dealing with multiple different calls all day. Former ED nurses tend to like this job the best. They're uses to seeing multiple patients and triaging them. I know I've saved lives over the phone, it's hard work. I feel like a 911 operator sometimes. PM me for more info.

3ringnursing, BSN · Sep 8, 2017

I rotate shifts, but have come to like evenings. I work for a local organization in my city, and work from home. I love it.

It's a grab bag assortment of the types of calls that can come in from OB, geriatric, to PEDs, and everything in between. We give home care advice, schedule appts, refer to ED/UC, BH crisis lines, and at times call 911. Some patients are lonely and just want someone to talk to, which is only obvious in hindsight.

Refilling Rx's happens too much, as do critical labs. Typically there will be on call providers if you need orders.

If you have a wide variety of skills - especially ICU or ER, then you may enjoy it. Call volumes can fluctuate: heavy without opportunity to finish notes right away before needing to take the next call, and other times you could have long stretches before the next call comes in depending on the shift you work (day shift tends to be a lot busier than evenings and nights) - but don't fret, your employer will likely give you some busy work to fill that time (dry humor).

I love telephone triage. It's the best nursing job I've ever had.

No12S, ADN, BSN, RN · Dec 23, 2017

I do telephone triage for neurosurgey and work for a large teaching hospital. I work 8-5, m-f, always off on wkends and holidays. I work in an office with 3 other nurses. My typical day is returning phone calls to pts with post-op issues, we have appointment schedulers who take the calls and they forward the ones to us who have medical issues so I don't answer any phones all day. It's a relaxed atmosphere, I have time to drink me a cup of coffee and eat breakfast each morning, get up and take breaks throughout the day, we have 24hours to return phone calls, patients are told for urgent needs go to the ER. Typical issues I deal with are...wound care, wound infection, refills, pain. I love it! Wish I had left bedside nursing sooner. No more hoping I can be off for Xmas or thanksgiving...the office is closed. I go home on time everyday and no threat of ever working weekends because we are closed!

thetank · Mar 21, 2018

Hi there - it sounds like you and I have a very similar job. We average 50+ calls per 8 hours - back to back, non-stop, you name it, they ask it. Yes, it can be very stressful, and I am stunned at how mean and nasty patients can be. There are 4 of us, and we are out in the mix with the MAs. It's often hard to hear...we used to be back in a triage room, but our manager moved us out of there. (She is dreadful). Yes, we often feel like operators...people call for refills and even try to schedule appts through us...