A Triage Nurse, or Staff Triage Nurse, conducts initial assessments to evaluate how urgently a patient needs care. They ask questions, check vital signs and coordinate care with other medical professionals, such as nurses and physicians.
A Triage Nurse should be able to fulfill various duties and responsibilities. The following are some duties and responsibilities a Triage Nurse should be able to execute:
- Interviewing patients to gather information about their medical history and current symptoms
- Checking patient height, weight, blood pressure and temperature
- Collecting urine samples, throat cultures and other samples as needed to expedite care
- Assigning a triage priority based on the findings of the interview and exam
- Communicating with physicians, nurses and other members of the care team about patients’ statuses
- Updating patient health information systems with notes
A competitive Triage Nurse will have certain skills and qualifications, including:
- Extensive knowledge of anatomy, physiology and nursing care standards
- Analytical skills to assess patient condition
- Effective oral communication skills to interview patients and explain next steps as well as to pass information on to other members of the care team
- Decision-making skills to quickly assign a rating
- Ability to use medical equipment such as blood pressure monitors and to move items that may weigh up to 50 pounds
- Strong written communication skills to record patient information clearly and concisely
