A triage nurse is a registered nurse who works in emergency rooms, urgent care facilities, and other clinical settings to assess patients and determine their level of need for medical assistance. They are responsible for directing patients to the appropriate care as quickly as possible. Triage nursing involves many job responsibilities that make the role diverse and important, including performing assessments on incoming patients to evaluate their symptoms, giving emergency treatment whenever necessary, and communicating to patients and families the course of action. Triage nurses are typically the first point of clinical contact for patients visiting an emergency room, and they are responsible for sorting patients into priority groups according to guidelines. They also manage and communicate with patients in the waiting room and provide education to patients and families when necessary. In some facilities, they answer patient phone calls and offer medical assistance.

To become a triage nurse, you must be a registered nurse with current licensure. There are some programs that can help you prepare to become an RN, but there are also programs that help you prepare to get your RN as well as a bachelor’s degree at the same time. Triage nurses must also be able to multitask and make decisions when information is limited. They need to be calm, cool, and authoritative as they direct traffic and help with immediate and dire medical situations, while getting doctors and other nurses up-to-speed on what is needed for specific patients.