If you are a nurse looking to make money from home, you might consider getting involved in telephone triage. There are companies nationwide that are continually on the lookout for qualified nurses to fill these positions.
As a nurse doing telephone triage from home, you will take calls from patients, assess their various symptoms, and then help to point them in the right direction regarding medical care.
Pay for this type of work is competitive. According to ZipRecruiter, remote telephone triage nurses earn an average of around $38 per hour, with top earners bringing in $45 or more. That said, it can be a stressful job, particularly during cold and flu season.
Pay, requirements, and benefits will vary depending on who you work for.
Keep in mind that telephone triage from home often means working long shifts with nights and weekends most likely required. And just like with any phone job from home, background noise would need to be eliminated.
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Companies That Hire Remote Telephone Triage Nurses
The following companies have a consistent track record of hiring nurses to do telephone triage from home. Because specific job listings expire quickly, I have linked to each company's careers or nursing jobs page so you can see what is currently available. Check back regularly since new openings are posted often.
1 – UnitedHealth Group / Optum
UnitedHealth Group and its subsidiary Optum are among the largest and most consistent employers of remote nurses in the country. They regularly post telephone triage, telephonic case management, and utilization review roles across many US states.
Requirements vary by role but generally include an active RN license, clinical experience, and in many cases a bachelor's degree.
Pay typically starts around $28 per hour and goes up significantly with experience and specialty. Benefits are comprehensive and include medical, dental, vision, and 401k.
Browse remote nursing jobs at UnitedHealth Group here.
2 – CVS Health
CVS Health regularly hires remote registered nurses for telephone triage, case management, and telehealth support roles. Their care management and virtual visit teams are frequently looking for RNs with strong assessment skills and experience working with patients remotely.
Requirements typically include an active RN license, at least two years of clinical experience, and comfort working with telehealth platforms and electronic health records.
Pay varies by role and state but tends to be competitive.
Browse remote nursing jobs at CVS Health here.
3 – Humana
Humana has a strong reputation for hiring and supporting remote nurses, particularly in telephonic triage, chronic care management, and utilization review roles.
They hire across many US states and are known for good benefits and flexible scheduling options.
Typical requirements include an active RN license, two or more years of clinical experience, and strong communication skills. Humana also has training programs to help nurses transition into telephonic roles if they are coming from a traditional bedside background.
Browse remote nursing jobs at Humana here.
4 – Carenet Health
Carenet Health specializes in after-hours telephone triage, chronic care support, and insurance navigation, which makes them a strong option if you are specifically looking for triage-focused remote nursing work.
They hire on both a full-time and part-time basis, which gives you some flexibility in how much you take on.
Requirements typically include an active RN license in a compact state and at least two years of clinical experience.
Pay starts around $34 per hour for some roles.
Browse openings at Carenet Health here.
5 – IntellaTriage
IntellaTriage provides around-the-clock telephone triage for hospice and palliative care patients. This is a fully remote company and a good option for nurses with a hospice or end-of-life care background.
They hire for shorter shifts, which can be a good fit if you are looking for part-time work or want to avoid long overnight shifts.
Requirements include an active multistate RN license and a preference for hospice or palliative care experience. Base pay starts around $25 per hour with the potential to increase within the first several months.
Browse openings at IntellaTriage here.
6 – Medcor
Medcor operates a remote 24/7 occupational health triage call center and hires full-time registered nurses to staff it. Their nurses handle incoming calls from employees of client companies who have experienced workplace injuries, assessing symptoms and guiding them through next steps.
Shifts run between 12PM and 2AM CST, and the role requires the ability to type and navigate multiple software applications simultaneously while on the phone.
Pay starts at $28 per hour with additional shift differential pay available for evenings, nights, and weekends.
Browse openings at Medcor here.
Where Else to Look for Remote Triage Nurse Jobs
Beyond the companies listed above, there are a few other places worth checking regularly:
FlexJobs is one of the best job boards for remote nursing work. Every listing is vetted by a human before it is posted, which means you will not waste time sorting through scams or listings that are not actually remote.
They regularly feature openings at Cigna, UnitedHealth Group, and telehealth companies of all sizes.
There is a small membership fee, but it can be worth it when you are seriously job hunting because the quality of listings is significantly better than most free job boards. You can try it out for 14 days for just $2.95 to see if it works for you.
Go here to check out FlexJobs.
There is also an online forum at AllNurses where nurses who do or have done telephone triage share tips, advice, and resources with each other.
It might be worth browsing if you want a real-world perspective on what the work is actually like before you apply.
Interested in the Admin Side of Remote Medical Work?
Not every nurse wants to stay on the phone. If you are interested in the administrative side of remote medical work, there are other options to think about!
Medical scribing is one of the more entry-level options in this space and does not always require prior experience.
Medical transcription is another option, though it typically requires some training or certification before companies will hire you.
If you want to explore training options for medical transcription, billing, or coding, Penn Foster is a reputable, accredited online school that offers self-paced programs you can work around your current schedule.
They offer flexible payment plans to make their courses more accessible.
Go here to learn more about Penn Foster's healthcare programs.
Good luck!
Anna Thurman is a work at home blogger and mom of two. She has been researching and reviewing remote jobs for over 15 years. Her findings are published weekly here at Real Ways to Earn.