What Is a Triage Nurse? Career Overview and FAQ
What is a triage nurse? A nurse in this role is often one of the first clinicians that patients see when they come into the emergency room. A triage nurse helps quickly assess how sick the patient is, determining the level of care they require. To excel in this role, you’ll need excellent focused assessment skills, the ability to think on your feet, and confidence in your clinical decision-making skills.
What’s it like to be a triage nurse, and what other skills does this role require? We’ll answer these questions and more.
What Is Triage in Nursing?
The term triage refers to the preliminary assessment of a patient to determine the acuity level and urgency of the medical assistance they may require. A triage nurse is a registered nurse who conducts focused assessments to determine the seriousness of a patient’s condition and status. Then, they use the data they’ve collected to prioritize patients in order of medical urgency.
What Does a Triage Nurse Do?
The most important function of a triage nurse is prioritization. To prioritize effectively, most of their work focuses on gathering information and evaluating patients quickly, rather than implementing interventions. Take note: This role can look very different depending on the specific facility setting.
What is a triage nurse doing during their shifts, in general? Common skills and duties you’ll find in this role include:
- Performing initial, focused assessments that inform the care plan. This may include patient weight, medical history, family history, auscultation, and more.
- Obtaining the first vital signs to assess the level of urgency required in a patient’s care.
- Initiating emergency interventions when needed, such as if a patient comes in without a heartbeat.
- Taking calls from paramedics to determine the needs of patients who are en route to the facility.
- Communicating patient status to doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, and other staff.
- Applying rapid triage protocols per facility policy to sort patients into priority groups.
- Educating patients and family members about acute signs of illness.
- Documenting assessment findings and triage workflows in the electronic health record (EHR).
What Is a Telephone Triage Nurse?
A nurse in this role performs triage remotely. Patients call in, and the triage nurse performs a verbal assessment to help determine the correct course of action. They gather history, ask about symptoms, and may recommend that a patient visit the emergency room or urgent care, depending on their findings.
Telephone triage is helpful for patients who live far from a medical facility and are not in acute medical danger. One of the benefits of this role is that nurses may be able to perform these duties remotely.
Where Do Triage Nurses Work?
Triage can be implemented in several settings:
- Emergency departments
- Urgent care
- Outpatient clinics
- Pediatricians offices
- Ambulatory care centers
- Insurance companies
Essential Triage Nurse Skills
A great triage nurse has the following qualities:
- Autonomy: Making decisions independently and confidently is essential in this role.
- Quick critical thinking: Knowledge of emergencies and life-threatening conditions helps ensure the right level of care is provided to every patient.
- Attention to detail: Knowing what questions to ask and what small shifts in patient status may signal an emergency. An understanding of how to write a good nursing note is also essential.
- Time management: Being able to assess, triage, and document quickly ensures that patients are seen in a timely manner.
- People skills: A triage nurse may see hundreds of patients per day, and needs to be able to put patients at ease when they are scared or uncomfortable.
How Much Do Triage Nurses Make?
The average registered nurse salary is $98,430 per year. The average telephone triage nurse salary is around $87,000 per year, but note that not all triage nurses perform their work over the phone. Depending on where you choose to work as a triage nurse, the degree and experience level you have, and the location you work in, your salary might be different.
If you’re considering a move, these states are among the highest-paying for RNs:
How to Become a Triage Nurse: 4 Steps
How long does it take to become a triage nurse? It takes at least two to four years, and often longer, to get started in this role. You’ll need an RN license and some nursing experience to gain the skills necessary in triage. Below, we’ll give an overview of how to become a triage nurse, and you can also check out our in-depth guide on becoming an RN.
Step 1: Complete Nursing School
You’ll need either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited program. While the ADN is a faster degree that prepares you for practice in a variety of roles, the BSN may lead to more career opportunities down the line. Learn more about comparing ADN vs. BSN degrees.
Whichever path you choose, you can expect a combination of didactic courses and clinical rotations that are designed to help you earn the skills of a beginner nurse. If you’re interested in gaining skills related to triage, you might request placement in the emergency department or other acute care settings.
Step 2: Gain Licensure
Once you’ve graduated, you’ll need to complete the licensure process in your state to become a registered nurse. The details of this process are determined by your state board of nursing, but generally include:
- Background check
- Online application and fee
- Submission of official school transcripts
- Successful National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) scores
Step 3: Get Experience
Now it’s time to start your first nursing job. Most triage roles require some experience, so apply for other roles in acute care settings. Here, you’ll care for patients who are very sick, often with multiple diagnoses or illnesses. Another benefit of starting in acute care is that you may be able to take advantage of a nurse residency program, where you’ll be trained alongside other new nurses.
Check out roles in the following care settings:
While you’re getting experience, consider pursuing certifications that will make you a more competitive candidate in triage roles. Basic Life Support (BLS) is a requirement in every clinical nursing role, but check out these additional credentials and trainings:
- Advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS)
- Pediatric advanced life support (PALS)
- Trauma nursing core course (TNCC)
- Certified emergency nurse (CEN)
Step 4: Apply for Roles in Triage Nursing
Ready to use your skills towards triaging patients? As you’re putting together your nursing resume, highlight the experiences you’ve gained in performing fast assessments and making quick, accurate decisions. Be sure to include any certifications you’ve gained or leadership duties you’ve taken on. And remember that an RN cover letter is a great way to share some personality and show why you’re a great fit for the team.
When it’s time for interviews, check out our nursing interview questions and answers, so you can put your best foot forward. Soon you’ll be seeing patients as a triage nurse.
Triage Nursing FAQ
What is a triage nurse called in other jobs?
The exact title for this role will vary depending on where it is located. A triage nurse in the emergency room may be called an ER nurse. A triage nurse working for a call center may be called a telephone triage nurse or advice nurse.
What is the difference between a nurse and a triage nurse?
A nurse works in a variety of settings and typically implements the full spectrum of the nursing process. A triage nurse spends the majority of their time assessing patients. This does not mean that triage nurses do not also provide nursing interventions or evaluations — they do. The difference here is that the triage nurse is primarily responsible for assessment.
What is the difference between a triage nurse vs. ER nurse?
The title “triage nurse” refers to the type of work a nurse does, whereas an emergency room (ER) nurse refers to the location/specialty a nurse is working in. For example, a triage nurse can implement triage skills in an emergency room, doctor’s office, or call center. An ER nurse may perform a variety of skills, including but not limited to triage, within the confines of an ER.
Get Involved in Triage Today
You’ve asked us, What is a triage nurse? — and we answered. Whether you’re looking for roles in triage or another specialty, we can help you find what you’re looking for. Sign up for personalized job notifications to learn more.
Morganne Skinner, RN, BSN, contributed to the writing of this article.