Triage Registered Nurse (Bilingual Required: Spanish and English)

Position Summary:
The Triage, RN provides age-appropriate, culturally and ethnically sensitive care, maintains a safe environment, and educates patients and their families about healthy practices and treatment modalities. The Triage RN is responsible for the delivery of transition of care coordination services for patients discharged from the ED or hospital in patient setting. The Triage, RN will assure continuity of care, coordinate care across settings and among caregivers, manage information, communicate effectively and utilize technology. Utilizes the nursing process to provide and plan care (i.e. assessment, nurse diagnosis, planning and coordination, implementation, and evaluation).

Under direct supervision and within established scope of practice, the Triage, RN ensures the delivery of patient-centered services as directed by San Ysidro Health policies and procedures in a clinic setting.

Essential Functions of the Job:
• Upholds San Ysidro Health’s Policies and Procedures, Core Values and competencies and applicable state, federal and local laws.
• Will provide telephonic post ED or hospital follow-up to assure members understanding of the discharge instructions reconciliation and current treatment plan.
• Performs assessment/data collection focusing on physiologic, psychosocial, cultural, spiritual and cognitive status; also nutrition, pain, patient/family education, family involvement and patient advocacy.
• Documents pertinent patient information, nursing procedures and patient responses in patients' electronic medical record, following established SYH guidelines and maintaining patient confidentiality.
• Establishes patient care priorities based on essential patient needs and availability of unit resources (time, personnel, equipment, and supplies).
• Identifies patient/family learning needs and acts to meet them.
• Demonstrates an awareness of and sensitivity to patient/family rights, age specific needs, cultural and ethical beliefs.
• Provides/coordinates care for patients/patient populations.
• Establishes effective working relationships with members of the health care team, patients, and families.
• Delegates appropriately and coordinates duties/activities of health care team members.
• Evaluates effectiveness of care given by team members.
• Utilizes effective communication methods and skills, following lines of authority as appropriate.
• Managed patient medication reconciliation post hospital discharge
• Demonstrates knowledge of and applies safety principles as identified by San Ysidro Health.
• Leads efficiently in emergency situations following established protocols, informing appropriate persons, and documenting events.
• Demonstrates responsibility and accountability for own professional practice.
• Participates regularly in staff development training and activities for clinic to support continuous quality improvement.
• Demonstrates knowledge of legal issues, including patient confidentiality and risk management in all aspects of patient care and unit functioning.
• Participates in unit and department Performance and Quality Improvement activities.
• Participates in nursing research activities as requested.
• Provides data for staffing decisions and demonstrates flexibility in the resolution of staffing issues; demonstrates flexibility when floating to other units upon requests.
• Demonstrates proficiency in the use of computers and telecommunication modalities in documenting, tracking and conveying information.
• Perform other related duties as necessary.
• Ensures “triage” of patients to the appropriate level of care and facility.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure due to changing priorities, interruptions, high/low census, payor demands and discharge planning demands.
• Excellent interpersonal communication, including conflict resolution, problem solving and negotiation skills.
• Clinical knowledge of multiple age groups, medical illness and treatment plans according to disease process, diagnosis and anticipated LOS.

Customer Service/ Patient-Centered Care:
• Practices customer service standards as defined by SYH and specified clinic.
• Anticipates the customer's needs, takes proactive steps to meet those needs, by listening and taking responsibility within scope to ensure issues are resolved.
• Promptly responds to patient requests.
• Facilitates the customer's ability to utilize resources.
• Assures a clean, orderly, and functional work environment.

Team Commitment:
• Develops, monitors, and analyzes reports and identifies trends to improve the programs’ outcomes.
• Works collaboratively with the entire Medical Management team to ensure compliance with regulatory and health plan requirements.