Triage Nurse-RN

Iowa Ortho•Des Moines, IA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Triage Nurse provides telephonic nursing support for clinic physicians and helps physicians, other healthcare providers, and patients receive timely communication and responses to questions or concerns. The role uses independent clinical nursing judgment within Iowa Board of Nursing guidelines and Iowa Ortho policies. It includes assessing calls, arranging acute or emergent appointments when indicated, providing education under physician direction, processing medication refill requests, communicating test results, and documenting patient interactions in the electronic medical record. The position is hybrid, with four days working from home and one day in the office. Training is conducted in the office five days a week until fully trained, which may take four to six months. The nurse handles a high volume of calls from patients, families, physicians, pharmacies, and other health-related contacts, and may provide overflow coverage for central scheduling. Iowa Ortho describes its culture as guided by IMPACT values: innovation, motivation for exceptional care, passion for quality, accountability through open and honest communication, commitment to continued growth, and teamwork. The practice offers a competitive benefits package and highlights a state-of-the-art facility, a collaborative team atmosphere, and opportunities for professional growth.

Requirements

Maintain an RN license.
At least two years of nursing and customer service experience.
Current CPR certification.
Mandatory reporter certification.
BLS certification.
At least two years of previous experience in a healthcare setting.
Clear and effective communication skills.
Basic computer skills and accurate data entry, with the ability to develop proficiency using the NextGen system.
Ability to apply nursing and administrative knowledge to follow written, oral, or diagrammed instructions.
Ability to address problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Nice To Haves

Two years of orthopedic experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Practice autonomously within clinical nursing guidelines established by the Iowa Board of Nursing and Iowa Ortho.
Recognize potentially dangerous symptoms outside orthopedic care, including urgent, pre-stroke, and cardiac concerns, and refer them promptly to a physician.
Notify and educate patients about test results at the direction of a physician, documenting actions in the electronic medical record.
Collaborate with physicians and other healthcare team members to process information accurately, consistently, and promptly.
Receive and process medication refill requests through various communication channels according to established policies and protocols.
Use sound judgment to identify medication side effects, adverse interactions, non-compliance with the medical plan of care, and repeated missed appointments.
Complete order forms and correspondence as needed.
Handle a high volume of calls involving physicians, patients, family members, pharmacies, and other health-related agents; provide overflow call coverage for central scheduling.
Document health-related and patient information from telephone contacts in the medical record.
Provide and reinforce patient education concerning medication and test-result information under physician direction.
Accurately document communications and information or forward calls and messages to the appropriate people; complete medical records accurately and concisely.
Observe Release of Information Guidelines and clients’ and significant others’ rights.
Attend meetings and in-service programs as appropriate.
Act professionally and comply with Iowa Ortho's mission, policies, procedures, regulatory agencies, and professional requirements.
Listen to patient concerns and symptoms and use nursing knowledge to schedule acute or emergent appointments when indicated.
Telephone outpatient surgical patients after discharge.