RN Triage Specialist – Hospice & Home Health (On Call)
Join Synergy’s compassionate clinical services team as an RN Triage Specialist supporting our Hospice and Home Health patients during after hours care . We are seeking an experienced, calm, and clinically strong registered nurse to provide telephone triage, symptom management guidance, and crisis support during evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. Your clinical judgment and empathy will play a vital role in ensuring patient comfort, safety, and continuity of care when it matters most.
About the Role The RN Triage Specialist provides after hours clinical support for Hospice and Home Health patients through timely telephone assessments and evidence based nursing guidance. This role ensures urgent patient needs are addressed promptly, appropriate interventions are initiated , and field staff or providers are engaged when necessary. The position requires strong assessment skills, sound decision making , and clear communication to support patients, families, and caregivers during non business hours.
Key Responsibilities Telephone Triage & Clinical Assessment Answer after hours calls promptly and conduct thorough telephone assessments to determine patient needs. Assess symptoms, pain levels, disease progression, medication concerns, and caregiver questions. Provide immediate nursing guidance, comfort measures, and symptom management using approved clinical protocols. Determine urgency and escalate care appropriately to on call field staff, physicians, or emergency services.
Hospice Specific Support Educate and guide families on end of llife symptoms, comfort measures, positioning, and expected changes. Support caregivers experiencing emotional distress, anxiety, or grief with reassurance and clear education. Coordinate after hours pronouncement procedures as required by agency policy and state regulations. Home Health Specific Support Assess changes in medical condition, post procedure complications, wound concerns, and medication reactions.
Provide guidance on self care, follow up actions, and signs requiring urgent skilled intervention. Arrange urgent nursing visits when patient needs cannot be safely managed by phone. Care Coordination & Communication Document all triage interactions clearly and accurately in the EMR in real time. Notify on call field staff and providers of urgent issues, new orders, or required interventions.
Communicate significant patient changes to the interdisciplinary team for next day follow up . Ensure effective hand off to daytime clinical staff to support continuity of care. Crisis Management & Safety Assess and respond to emergent situations including uncontrolled symptoms, respiratory distress, falls, caregiver crisis, or medication errors. Provide calm de-escalation and emotional support during high stress situations.
Activate emergency services when patient safety is at risk. Qualifications Required Active, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license. Minimum of 2–3 years of recent clinical experience in hospice, home health, emergency, ICU, or acute care. Strong clinical assessment, critical thinking , and independent decision making skills. Excellent verbal communication skills, particularly in telephone based care.
Proficiency with EMR documentation and ability to chart efficiently in real time. Ability to manage high call volume while maintaining clinical accuracy and compassion. Preferred Prior experience in hospice or home health triage . Strong knowledge of hospice symptom management and end of l life care. Familiarity with structured triage protocols or triage software. Skills and Competencies Advanced clinical assessment and nursing judgment Compassionate, clear, and confident communication Crisis intervention and de-escalation skills End of life education and caregiver su