番茄视频

What Is a Triage Nurse?

Whether it鈥檚 in an emergency room (ER), clinic, telehealth service or other urgent care setting, triage nurses are often the first medical professionals you see when seeking care. They are registered nurses (RNs) who prioritize patient care based on assessing the severity of the patient鈥檚 condition 鈥� oftentimes, using the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) or the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS).

Triage is a unique nursing specialty as it serves various levels of care. For example, an ER triage nurse must conduct accurate patient assessments to determine how quickly a patient, who may be in life-threatening condition, receives emergency care. On the other hand, a telephone triage nurse takes phone calls after outpatient clinic hours to connect patients with on-call providers.

If you鈥檙e interested in playing an essential role in healthcare, triage nursing may be the perfect career path for you. This guide is your one-stop shop to discovering triage nurse responsibilities, salary potential, job outlook and more.

What Does a Triage Nurse Do?

Patient assessment is often what triage nurses are most known for. However, they also perform various administrative and operational tasks that keep healthcare settings moving smoothly: 

• Patient education and guidance 
• Documentation and record-keeping 
• Collaboration with healthcare providers 

Some responsibilities are based on the setting. For example, an emergency triage nurse may assist critical care nurses with emergency interventions, such as basic life support or procedure preparation. Alternatively, a telehealth nurse makes patient calls to document symptoms, vital signs and any other information the provider needs. 

Essential Skills and Qualities for a Triage Nurse

As the first point of contact for a patient鈥檚 visit, the skills of a triage nurse encompass a range of abilities from medical expertise to precise communication.

• Communication and active listening: From alerting the appropriate personnel of an emergency to accurately reporting a patient鈥檚 symptoms, you must be able to listen and communicate clearly and effectively. 
• Critical thinking and decision making: Assessing a patient鈥檚 status requires a strong ability to discern and determine next steps swiftly and thoughtfully. 
• Emotional intelligence and empathy: Pain and illness often bring out the worst in people, and it鈥檚 important to notice a patient鈥檚 emotional state while offering empathy toward their distress. 
• Attention to detail and accurate documentation: Notes you dictate inform care teams, so precision and detail help with communication between nurses, providers and patients. 
• Patience and composure under pressure: When intense cases come up, stress is inevitable, and you must be able to manage these scenarios patiently and calmly. 
• Adaptability and flexibility: Patient statuses can escalate quickly, even while in the waiting room, so it鈥檚 important to adjust when needed. 

How to Become a Triage Nurse

Registered Nurse Salary and Job Outlook

In the United States, the median annual salary for RNs overall in 2024 was $93,600.*

RN roles are projected to increase by 5%, faster than average, between 2024 and 2034.*

Triage nurse salary is often influenced by location, experience and employer type. With additional triage nurse education and/or advanced degrees, you can qualify for senior positions like lead triage nurse or triage coordinator. 

References:

*. Accessed Dec. 3, 2025. 

FAQs

Similar Nursing Careers