7 Telephone Triage Nurse Interview Questions and Answers

As you’ve lined up an interview for a great telephone triage nurse position, now it’s time to start preparing to wow the interviewer and get the job!

It’s important to be prepared for the types of telephone triage nurse interview questions that you will likely be asked so that you have your best chance at getting hired.

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Interview questions for telephone triage nurses

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Telephone Triage Nurse Interview Questions and Answers

In this article, we are going to explore the 7 most common telephone triage nurse interview questions that you are likely to encounter during the interview process.

By reviewing and preparing to answer these questions you will be ready to take on your telephone triage nurse interview with confidence and let your skills shine.

1. What is your experience as a telephone triage nurse?

Any potential employer will want to know your specific experience as a telephone triage nurse so that they can gain an understanding of your ability to do the job.

If you have worked as a telephone triage nurse, now is the time to share your accomplishments and experiences in the field.

Explain the clinical setting that you worked in, the volume of calls you are comfortable fielding, and the types of calls you are experienced handling.

If you are making a career pivot from a different area of nursing, now is the time to explain your reasons for making a change to a telephone triage nurse role.

Help the interviewer understand how your previous experience will lend itself to your new role by making parallels and highlighting transferable skills whenever possible.

2. How do you handle stressful situations?

Telephone triage nurses are often the first point of contact that a patient will have when preparing to come to a healthcare facility looking for care.

Patients may be in distress or angry when they call and you may have to talk them through very difficult things, so it’s important to show your ability to stay calm.

During this portion of the interview, highlight any crisis management skills and use specific examples of times when you handled a stressful situation well.

Be as specific as possible to show your strength in this area.

Tailor your response to include stories that are directly relevant to the work you will be doing like taking stressful calls or a shift with unusually high call volume.

See also: Trauma Nurse Interview Questions

3. What made you want to pursue a nursing career?

Everyone has a reason for pursuing the career path that they’re on, and nurses are no exception.

The interviewer will want to hear what drew you to the nursing field in the first place.

See also: Is Nursing for Me Quiz

This is an important question because they are looking for an authentic and honest answer to show who you are and what your career values are.

Spend some time working on your “story” and getting comfortable telling it.

Keep it concise and truthful.

This is also a question where you want to share your personal motivations that made you become a nurse.

Whether it’s because you were inspired by a nurse you know or because the field has interested you since a very young age, share those key details.

4. Can you demonstrate how you use clear communication as a nurse?

Communication is key in any healthcare setting, but especially as a telephone triage nurse.

You are responsible for communicating clearly with patients about what to do next and also with your fellow hospital staff to prepare for incoming patients.

See also: Pre-Op Nurse Interview Questions

When you are asked this type of question, be prepared with 2-3 solid examples from your recent nursing experience that highlight your communication skills.

Choose stories where you handled a complex case with certainty or helped walk a patient through a difficult diagnosis with ease.

Make sure your answers are relevant to the job and paint you in a positive light.

5. What is the first thing you do when you take a patient call?

Your strategy when taking patient calls must align with the style and pace of the healthcare center you are hoping to work in.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions of your interviewer about the types of calls that they see the most and any overarching values they adhere to.

Explain the way that you:

first establish rapport with the patient,
how you will calm them down if needed,
and your strategy of gathering information to form an initial diagnosis.

The interviewer will be looking at the way you answer this to determine if you’re a fit for the position.

See also: Nursing Interview Questions

6. How would you handle a patient who becomes angry with you?

Because you are most likely going to be working in an emergency room or urgent care setting as a telephone triage nurse, you will be speaking with patients in vulnerable, stressed, or angry states very regularly.

Showing competence and comfort in dealing with this is key.

Your interviewer will want to hear that you’ll be confident dealing with these types of scenarios.

Draw on your experiences where you have combatted anger with positivity and successfully neutralized the situation.

Explain the tools you use and how they work for you in real-life examples.

7. What are your long-term career goals?

This common question appears in nearly all interviews because hiring managers want to know how long they can expect to have you as an employee.

Is it your goal to work your way up and stay with a job for a long time or are you more unsure?

While there is no wrong answer, answer this question carefully.

It’s important to be truthful about your goals while still trying to make sure you look like a good candidate.

Highlight the areas of your career goals that align with your potential employer and your hopes for your career if you were to get the job as a telephone triage nurse.

Conclusion: Interview Questions for Telephone Triage Nurse

When preparing for an interview for a telephone triage nurse position, preparation is key.

These 7 questions will help you feel ready to answer the types of questions that you are likely to encounter.

It’s important to know what to expect from telephone triage nurse interview questions.

Your potential employer will want to hear real stories that show your abilities to handle high-stress, complex patient scenarios.

Share recent, relevant examples and showcase as much confidence as possible.

Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions of your interviewer to help you decide if the job will be a good fit for you as well.

Good luck with your telephone triage nurse job interview questions!

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Telephone Triage Nurse Interview Questions