Triage Nurse - North Liberty Orthopedic Clinic - 8:30am-5:00pm

University of Iowa Health Care Department of Nursing is seeking a Triage Nurse to work for the North Liberty Hospital Orthopedic Clinic.

Position Summary

The Staff Nurse provides support via telephone and electronic communication forums to UI Healthcare patients, the community, referring entities and business partners. Nurses within the utilize the nursing process to provide education and care for individual patients or defined patient populations via the telephone.

Telehealth nursing practice involves providing guidance to clients who call regarding health problems or symptoms which concern them. The advice, given by the triage nurse, may include coming into the hospital or a clinic, remaining at home and observing the symptoms, or following a treatment regimen.

Nurses utilize their clinical judgment skills in conjunction with established protocols (via a computerized decision support systems) to enable, educate, and encourage people to improve their health and make appropriate use of medical care.

Duties to Include

Assumes Accountability for Advice Provided to Callers

• Assumes responsibility for service provided by self and other staff members under the nurse’s direction
• Evaluates the quality of nursing care provided by other staff members
• Participates in the development of unit, division, department, hospital policies, procedures, and protocols

Contributes to the Solutions of Staffing Issues

• Participates in projects/committees for enhanced functioning of the unit and supports department level decision-making
• Participates in ongoing strategic planning process
• Participates in the development and implementation of computer applications

Provides Recognition and Support for Colleagues

Represents the interests of the University and of unit leadership in the use of resources to meet service and productivity demands within unit goals and budgets; strives to promote continual process and quality improvement. Contributes to cost containment strategies in unit

• Maintains knowledge of Standards of Care and other regulatory compliances
• Consistently makes sound judgments after gathering factual, objective information
• Demonstrates tolerance for change
• Incorporates the principles of Service Excellence to ensure positive patient/customer relations
• Maintain knowledge of Telehealth and Ambulatory Nursing Practice Administration and Practice Standards

Develops and maintains knowledge of the full range of UI faculty, staff, and services offered by the University of Iowa Health Care

Keep current with nursing and health care knowledge base and to pursue further enhancements of job-related knowledge

• Builds and sustains relationships and develops collaborative working relationships
• Maintains competency in age appropriate communications skills for all age groups.

Maintains interpersonal relationships and communications with caller that exemplifies the highest level of guest relations with an unfailing courteous and helpful approach without regard to the caller’s manner

Responds efficiently and effectively to requests from internal and external customers, assessing the need, prioritizing the request, offering appropriate alternatives, and connecting them with the appropriate resource or handling the request if the information is within the scope of the call center

• Offers constructive feedback and solutions to problems
• Ensures that information is documented and recorded per departmental procedures
• Monitors calls appropriately to assure that appropriate individuals are notified, information is communicated, and resources are arranged

Remains Calm and Constructive in Conflict Situations

• Develops, and implements, patient/family teaching plan based on identified health education needs and the condition and age of the patient
• Evaluates and documents effectiveness of patient/family teaching through follow up telephone calls
• Participates in the orientation of new nursing staff and the ongoing education of nursing personnel, as directed by the Nurse Manager or designee
• Collaborates with unit nursing staff to develop/share best practices
• Invests in own continuous learning and skill enhancement.
• Percent of Time: 100%25
• Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm
• Location: Medical Center North Liberty

Benefits Highlights: Fringe benefit package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental, life, and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans.

Education

An Associate’s Degree in Nursing, a Diploma in Nursing, a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing, Professional Master’s of Nursing and Healthcare Practice (MNHP), MSN/Clinical Nurse Leader or a Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN, MA) is required

Required Qualifications

• Current license to practice nursing.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• General computer skills, including adaptability in working with computer software programs.
• Experience with hospital operations and/or Ambulatory Clinic operations.
• Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills with patients/families, nursing staff, providers, and interdisciplinary team members through verbal and written interactions.
• 3-5 years of RN Clinical Nursing Experience is required.
• Ability to multi-task; working with computer software & responding to patient calls simultaneously

Desired Qualifications

• Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing or Masters’ Degree in Nursing is highly desired.
• Experience with the Epic system.
• If Baccalaureate degree in Nursing is not yet obtained, active enrollment in a BSN program is desirable.

Previous Experience with Telephone Triage Is Desired

• Experience with high-volume public contact/customer service is desired.
• Comprehensive knowledge of University of Iowa Health Care clinical programs and services is desired.
• Experience handling a multi-phone line system is desired.
• Previous experience working with electronic medical records is desired.

Application Process

In order to be considered, applicants must upload a resume (under submission relevant materials) that clearly address how they meet the listed required and desired qualifications of this position.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of 7 calendar days. This job may be removed from posting and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended. Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. For questions, contact polly-terukina@uiowa.edu

This position is not eligible for University sponsorship for employment authorization