Triage Nurse - job 1 of 2

firsthand supports individuals living with SMI (serious mental illness). Our holistic approach includes a team of peer recovery specialists, benefits specialists and clinicians. Our teams focus on meeting each individual where they are and walking with them side by side as a trusted guide and partner on their journey to better health.

firsthand's team members use their lived experience to build trust with these individuals and support them in reconnecting to the healthcare they need, while minimizing inappropriate healthcare utilization. Together with our health plan partners, we are changing the way our society supports those most impacted by SMI.

We are cultivating a team of deeply passionate problem-solvers to tackle significant and complex healthcare challenges with us. This is more than a job—it's a calling. Every day, you will engage in work that resonates with purpose, gain wisdom from motivated colleagues, and thrive in an environment that celebrates continuous learning, creativity, and fun.

The Triage Nurse is a remote Registered Nurse who provides telephone and electronic triage support to firsthand individuals and staff, while also supporting outpatient care coordination. This is primarily a day-shift role (8 hours/day, 9–5 ET or 8–4 CT), with occasional potential for nights or weekends. When not managing acute issues, Triage Nurses focus on care coordination, training, and related administrative tasks.

Responsibilities of a Triage Nurse include:

Triage and Escalation: Manage inbound clinical issues from firsthand staff and patients via phone; triage appropriately and escalate emergencies immediately.

Collaboration: Work closely with peer mental health workers, social workers, and APPs to address acute issues comprehensively.

Care Coordination: Coordinate care with patients’ other providers to ensure seamless health management. 

Training: Develop and deliver training on basic medical topics for peer mental health workers and social workers.

Triage Nurses should have:

Strong triage and prioritization skills, with the ability to rapidly assess and determine the appropriate level of care. Problem-solving expertise with a creative, patient-centered approach. Ability to provide condition-specific patient education and self-management guidance. Adaptability to varying team cultures and processes. Empathy, compassion, and approachability in patient and team interactions.

Required experience includes:

Active RN license through a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state and willingness to obtain licensure in non-compact states. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).At least 3 (three) years of clinical care experience in an Emergency Department. Experience working with populations facing challenges such as behavioral health and/or substance use disorders. Care management and coordination experience.

Bonus points for: Certification in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing (PMH-BC)

This is a full-time, exempt, salaried position with potential yearly bonus. We also offer a special incentive program that includes retention bonus and base compensation increases. firsthand cares deeply about ensuring pay equity with every team member who joins. Also know the journey starts here and that we are growing quickly (and intentionally). As such, with solid performance, there is ample opportunity for growth in role/scope and compensation.

Benefits 

For full-time employees, our compensation package includes base, equity (or a special incentive program for clinical roles) and performance bonus potential. Our benefits include physical and mental health, dental, vision, 401(k) with a match, 16 weeks parental leave for either parent, 15 days/year vacation in your first year (this increases to 20 days/year in your second year and beyond), and a supportive and inclusive culture.

Vaccination Policy

Employment with firsthand is contingent upon attesting to medical clearance requirements, which include, but may not be limited to: evidence of vaccination for/immunity to COVID-19, Hepatitis B, Influenza, MMR, Chickenpox, Tetanus and Diphtheria. All employees of firsthand are required to receive these vaccinations on a cadence/frequency as advised by the CDC, whereas not otherwise prohibited by state law.

New hires may submit for consideration a request to be exempted from these requirements (based on a valid religious or medical reason) via forms provided by firsthand. Such requests will be subject to review and approval by the Company, and exemptions will be granted only if the Company can provide a reasonable accommodation in relation to the requested exemption. Note that approvals for reasonable accommodations are reviewed and approved on a case-by-case basis and availability of a reasonable accommodation is not guaranteed.

Unfortunately, we are not able to offer sponsorship at this time.