Registered Nurse, Athol Emergency Department

Emergency Room Nurse

Job Summary: Under the direction of the nurse manager, performs a variety of direct and indirect patient care activities based on standards defined by the Emergency Department. Ability to function independently in the Emergency Department. Assessment skills, critical thinking skills and communication skills a must as well as a team player.

Essential Functions:

• Assesses (and reassesses), plans, implements, and evaluates nursing interventions/plans of care/patient goals.
• Provides patient care based on standards of care, standards of practice, protocols, and established policies and procedures.
• Respects each patient as an individual; provides care that fosters the patient's sense of dignity and positive self-regard.
• Provides patient/family teaching based on identified learning needs, readiness to learn, and barriers to learning.
• Collaboratively plans and prepares patient/family for discharge incorporating support systems/resources as necessary.
• Appropriately delegates and supervises nursing interventions performed by others.
• Appropriately prioritizes patient care (e.g. seeks assistance as needed from appropriate resources, reassigns personnel as necessary, recognizes need for emergency intervention, etc.).
• Provides thorough, timely, and accurate documentation of all pertinent data, therapeutic interventions and patient responses according to established standards.
• Provides timely and thorough report on assigned patients to other health care team members to ensure integration of services and continuity of patient care.
• Promotes learning for colleagues and self (e.g. functions as preceptor, instructor, trainer, attends professional development programs, etc.).
• Proactively identifies risk to patient safety and identifies opportunities to reduce medical/health care errors (i.e. appropriate reporting of errors/incidents).
• Identifies ethical issues in care and develops plan to address.
• Safely administers medications and intravenous therapy in accordance with physician's orders, protocols, policies and procedures.
• Assesses patient pain level upon admission and as necessary, depending upon diagnosis utilizing the numerical pain scale.
• Reassesses effectiveness of pain control and notifies physicians as needed, as well as, documents assessment and patients' response to medication.
• Performs and documents initial assessment upon patients' arrival and implements triage protocols as needed.
• Identifies patients at risk for potential/alleged abuse. Initiates safety plans for domestic violence, child, and elder abuse patients.
• Completes required mandated reporting in a timely manner.
• Collects and documents forensic evidence as per policy. Maintains chain of evidence per policy and procedures.
• Completes mandated reports for stabbings, gunshot wounds, burns, and sexual assault per policy and procedure.
• Maintains knowledge of Disaster Policy and Procedure.
• Identifies patient at risk for violent behavior and appropriately implements non-violent intervention (i.e. Code 100). Demonstrates knowledge of the indications for, alternatives, monitoring and documentation of restraint to use.
• Recognizes normal and abnormal laboratory and diagnostic results and appropriately notifies the physician of changes in a timely manner.
• Safely administers vasoactive medications demonstrating understanding of dosage, action, use, side effects, and titration parameters associated with maintenance of critical drips.
• Performs accurate and timely identification of cardiac arrhythmias.
• Institutes, monitors, and documents thrombolytic and anticoagulation therapy standards and protocols.
• Demonstrates skills associated with initiation and maintenance of the intubated patient including, suctioning, troubleshooting, and weaning.
• Accurately interprets arterial blood gases, pulse oximetry, and clinical features of impaired gas exchange and/or airway clearance.
• Responsible for obtaining supporting information and completing required documentation related to medication reconciliation for use by the Attending MD.
• Responsible for implementing components of the VAP bundle consistently and per protocol. Responsible for alerting the Nurse Manager/Director/Nursing Supervisor if there is a deviation from VAP bundle by Attending MD for case review and follow up as indication.

Functional Demands:

Physical Requirements: Exerts 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Frequently reaches (extending hands and arms in any direction), handles (seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or working with hands), and feels (perceiving attributes of items such as size, shape, temperature, or texture by means of fingertips). Occasionally stoops (bending the body downward and forward by bending the spine at the waist), kneels (bending the legs at knee to come to rest on knee or knees) and distinguishes colors.

Organizational Expectations:

Behavioral Attributes: The following behavioral attributes are required: achievement motivation, concern for order, flexibility, initiative, self-confidence, customer service oriented, interpersonal effectiveness, teamwork, analytical thinking and information seeking.

Job Requirements:

Minimum Education: AS in nursing required, BS in nursing preferred.

Minimum Work Experience: 3-5 years ED experience preferred.

Minimum Licenses and Certifications: Registered Nurses, Current MA license ACLS upon hire OR must hold an active BLS card and obtain AHA ACLS within 60 days of hire AHA PALS within six (6) months of hire TNCC, ENPC and CEN preferred