Registered Nurse; ER

The Staff Nurse is a Registered Nurse who plans, organizes and provides general nursing care to patient in the Emergency Room. The Staff Nurse also dispenses medications to patients during the shift.

When acting as a Charge Nurse, directs, coordinates and controls the nursing activities of the Emergency Department on a shift.

Under the direction of the Dir. of Critical Care, is responsible for the operations of the Emergency Department during assigned tour of duty by exhibiting a leadership role in carrying out the mission, goals, and objectives of the hospital, focusing on the patient, physician and employees as customers. Integrates operations with other departments to ensure efficiency and coordination.

Ensures staff assignments are made and communicated within one hour of start of shift. Updates and reassigns as warranted by the Emergency Department needs.

Directs staff effectively to ensure maintenance of established standards for delivery of nursing care and to ensure completion of the assignments and compliance with standards of care, policies and procedures.

Makes rounds and discusses patients with attending/consulting physician, to identify treatment issues, review and direct focus of care.

Ensures all nursing activities are conducted per the Emergency Department schedule, by appropriate staff and monitors same for effectiveness and quality.

Enforces rules, policies, and regulations of the therapeutic milieu.

Ensures all physician orders are taken off and implemented within one (1) hour of entry in chart.

Ensures all pending labs or diagnostic reports due are obtained within shift and reports any discrepancies to the Director of Critical Care.

Serves as a clinical resource person and assists nursing personnel in assessing patient/family status in delivering nursing care.

Ensures judicious use of the Emergency Department supplies and monitors equipment to ensure that they are in working order. Notifies appropriate individual when equipment is not working and provides follow up to ensure corrective measures are taken.

Assesses the Emergency Department for safety and cleanliness. Reports all problems identified to appropriate departments and ensures follow-up action is taken to ensure corrective measures are taken in a timely fashion.

Provides a comprehensive report to oncoming shift which effectively addresses status of patient, problems being addressed, diagnostic procedures/tests completed or special precautions, and any follow up actions required by oncoming/future shifts.

Meets with other Emergency Department charge nurses on a monthly basis for the purpose of identifying and resolving the Emergency Department issues.

Assists with the planning and implementation of effective strategies which address and improve quality of service.

Provides direct patient care as warranted to assess particular patient needs, provides relief or supplemental assistance as warranted by the Emergency Department/patient needs.

Occasionally, makes assessment and identifies patients’ needs according to hospital policy, uses clinical judgment when providing care and/or setting patient care goals.

Creates a plan of action to meet those goals. Incorporates the physical, social and psychological needs in the process.

Reports patient clinical observation and medical outcome to pertinent person, including physicians and department director.

Documents observations timely, accurately and legibly in the medical record of the patient. Follows established documentation protocol.

Ensures all documentation by self and others effectively addresses patient problems identified in treatment plan, reflects patient status in specific clinical issues and reflects effectiveness of treatment plans per hospital policy.

Assists and works…