In this Course:
   • You will learn:
   • Some common misconceptions of teletriage
   • The goal of any patient encounter
   • Legal issues pertaining to Nurse Triage
   • How to minimize your risks
    Nurse Triage Misconceptions:
   • We are not “gatekeepers”-  All nurses are advocates for their 
    patients, teletriage nurses are not different- we never stand in 
    the way of a patient speaking with their physician.
   • Providing Symptom Diagnosis-  Diagnosing is outside of the 
    scope of practice for ANY nurse, teletriage nurses are no 
    exception.
   • Nurses that are "winging it”-We follow algorithms that were 
    approved by our medical director. We do work under the 
    supervision of MD’s at all times.
    What we are NOT, continued
  • Robotic Messengers -We are intelligent, knowledgeable, 
   highly trained RN’s working in a unique nursing specialty. 
  • Telemarketers- Nurse Triage nurses are not selling anything 
   to our patients.  
  Goal of Nurse Triage
  •By following specialized protocols 
   teletriage nurses work with patients to 
   develop a plan of action , getting them 
   the most appropriate care in the most 
   appropriate place, at the right time by 
   the safest route.
    Legal issues 
  • All medical professionals practice their jobs with some risk, nurses 
   are no exception.   The teletriage nurse must be sure and practice 
   nurses as a “prudent nurse” would do in a similar situation. 
  • Terms to remember: 
  •  Negligence- In Teletriage it is defined as failure to communicate 
   significant information in a timely manner to the physician or 
   patient
  • The relationship btw the patient and nurse begins the moment 
   the nurse answers phone. 
  • Abandonment: -when a professional terminates the relationship 
   without providing adequate replacement.