Triage RN in Outpatient Family Medicine

Triage Registered Nurse

Unity Care NW is a private, non-profit, federally qualified health center that has been proudly and successfully serving the greater Whatcom County area since 1982. With clinics located in Bellingham & Ferndale, we offer comprehensive primary medical, behavioral health and dental care, as well as pharmacy services to a diverse and often underserved patient population of all ages. Employing more than 300 caring and compassionate employees, our mission is to increase the years of healthy life in the people & communities we serve.

The Triage RN provides centralized, protocol driven clinical triage for all Unity Care NW patients, neonate to geriatric, to assess patient concerns, determine urgency, and route patients to the appropriate level of care. This role ensures timely, consistent, and safe clinical decision making, protects provider capacity, and supports same day access across the primary care clinics. The primary duties and responsibilities below:

• Clinical Triage & Assessment:
• Conducts telephone triage and responds to in-basket messages as assigned using Schmitt-Thompson Triage protocols
• Assesses symptoms, risk factors, and red flags to determine urgency and appropriate disposition
• Routes patients to RN visits, provider visits, same day care, ED, or home care as appropriate
• Provides clear, clinically appropriate guidance and education within scope using approved protocols and clinical guidance
• In-Basket & Workflow Management
• Manages assigned RN Pool accurately and within required time frames
• Uses best practice workflows, including documentation standards
• Communicates clearly with Clinic RNs, RN Care Managers, providers, and MAs to ensure smooth handoffs
• Identifies trends, bottlenecks, or recurring issues impacting triage efficiency
• Same Day Access & Escalation
• Supports same day access by prioritizing urgent and time-sensitive patient needs
• Escalates high-risk or complex cases promptly to providers or supervisors
• Collaborates with Clinic RNs to align triage decisions with clinic capacity and staffing
• Ensures critical results and urgent findings are addressed within required time frames
• Quality & Team-Based Care
• Applies triage protocols consistently to reduce variation and risk
• Documents all triage interactions accurately and timely in the electronic health record (EHR)
• Participates in protocol development, review, and ongoing refinement
• Supports training and coaching of Clinic RNs and staff related to triage workflows as assigned

A friendly and collaborative team environment

A competitive compensation package

Outpatient clinic – no hospital work

Day shifts only – no nights

No Sunday shifts

Employment at UCNW counts towards eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness – details can be viewed at Federal Student Aid.

Eligible providers may apply for loan repayment through the Washington Student Achievement Council (Washington Health Corps | WSAC) &/or Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program (Apply to the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program | Bureau of Health Workforce (hrsa.gov)).

While employees at UCNW are eligible to apply for these loan repayment awards, receipt is not guaranteed.

Generous benefits including:

• Medical, dental, & vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match after 1 year of eligibility
• 6 paid holidays
• Generous paid time off of 108 hours accrued in Year 1, 156 hours accrued in Year 2 and gradually increasing to 196 hours accrued per year over 10 years
• Paid sick leave accrued at 1 hour per 40 hours paid
• Other paid leaves for Bereavement, Jury Duty & Bone Marrow/Organ Donation
• Life/Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance
• Variety of optional insurances including Supplementary Life/AD&D, Short Term and Long Term Disability, Critical Illness, Accident, and Travel as well as Identity Theft Protection
• Flexible Spending Account
• Self-funded Health Savings Account on Base Medical Insurance Plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• Alternative transportation incentives
• Healthy Living reimbursement
• Unique programs including Medical Hardship Payroll Loans, Employee Referral Bonuses & Will preparation services
• Continuing Education (days & funds)
• Reimbursement of Washington State license renewal…