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What is a triage nurse and how to become one
A triage nurse is a registered nurse with a post in the emergency room of a hospital. They are in charge of assessing patients that come into the ER and determining their level of need for medical attention, which is the process known as triage. To do this, they use a set of criteria, which includes the patient's injury or illness, the severity, the symptoms, and the vital signs of the patient. Apart from conducting initial assessments of patients, a triage nurse is also responsible for reassessing patients in the waiting room, initiating emergency treatment if needed, and directing patients to treatment areas.
A triage nurse must be a registered nurse, which is a position acquired with a bachelor's degree in nursing and a subsequent licensure examination. They must also have experience in handling emergencies, as well as proven expertise in triaging, which may be attained through training. Moreover, a triage nurse must be able to perform well under pressure, react immediately to sudden emergencies, and provide professional advice to patients in the ER.
The average salary of a triage nurse is $70,000. But for this type of salary, a triage nurse may have to work long hours and shift schedules.
What general advice would you give to a triage nurse?
Lisa Rebeschi Ph.D.
Associate Dean of the School of Nursing Professor of Nursing, Quinnipiac University
Avg. Salary $64,592
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 6%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.44%
Asian 8.95%
Black or African American 11.24%
Hispanic or Latino 9.13%
Unknown 4.27%
White 65.97%
Genderfemale 90.87%
male 9.13%
Age - 43American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 43Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is good
6.4 - fair
Triage nurse career paths
Key steps to become a triage nurse
Explore triage nurse education requirements
Start to develop specific triage nurse skills
Skills Percentages Patients 29.85% Home Health 10.04% Patient Education 4.17% Test Results 3.18% Symptom Management 3.16% Complete relevant triage nurse training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New triage nurses learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a triage nurse based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real triage nurse resumes.Obtain the necessary licensing
Becoming a licensed triage nurse usually require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed triage nurse in most of states. 43 states require triage nurses to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.State Education Exam License url Alabama Degree required State exam required Registered Nurse (RN) Alaska Degree required Third-party exam required Nurse, Registered Arkansas Degree required Third-party exam required Registered Nurse (RN) California Degree required Third-party exam required Nurse, Registered Colorado Degree required Third-party exam required Registered Nurse Gain additional triage nurse certifications
More About CertificationsTriage nurse certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific triage nurse certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for triage nurses include Medical Assistant and Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).
Research triage nurse duties and responsibilities
- Recognize and manage maternal complications: hemorrhage, preeclampsia, endometritis.
- Provide outpatient chemotherapy administration, patient education and telephone triage of patients undergoing cancer treatment.
- Follow up on denials and appeals.
- Experience in initiating prior authorizations, denials, and appeals.
Prepare your triage nurse resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your triage nurse resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a triage nurse resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable triage nurse resume templates
Build a professional triage nurse resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your triage nurse resume.
Apply for triage nurse jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a triage nurse job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first triage nurse job
Are you a triage nurse?
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Average triage nurse salary
The average triage nurse salary in the United States is $64,592 per year or $31 per hour. Triage nurse salaries range between $43,000 and $95,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do triage nurses rate their job?
Triage nurse reviews
What is there not to like? It's such a rewarding job!
helping people and saving lives
the pay is not good not enough for the lifestyle I would like to live
Far to many things to mention but to be on your feet for 12 hours plus a stressful environment the job should be double in salary especially they save lives just like a policeman or fireman ! I could go on and I am a mother of a nurse !!
Ready to be a server in an high-end restaurant. !😰😰
Updated January 8, 2025
