Registered Nurse Emergency Department

The Registered Nurse in the Emergency Department is responsible for providing comprehensive nursing care to patients in a fast-paced emergency setting. This role involves patient assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of nursing interventions, medication administration, and collaboration with the interdisciplinary team. The nurse must demonstrate critical thinking, strong communication skills, and the ability to function independently while maintaining patient dignity and safety. Responsibilities:

• Assess and reassess patients, plan and implement nursing interventions, and evaluate patient outcomes.
• Provide patient care in accordance with established standards, protocols, and policies.
• Deliver patient and family education tailored to learning needs and readiness.
• Collaborate on discharge planning incorporating necessary support systems and resources.
• Delegate and supervise nursing interventions performed by other staff appropriately.
• Prioritize patient care and seek assistance or reassign personnel as needed.
• Document all pertinent data, interventions, and patient responses accurately and timely.
• Provide thorough handoff reports to healthcare team members to ensure continuity of care.
• Serve as preceptor, instructor, or trainer to promote learning among colleagues.
• Identify and report patient safety risks and healthcare errors promptly.
• Address ethical issues in patient care and develop appropriate plans.
• Administer medications and intravenous therapy safely according to orders and protocols.
• Assess and manage patient pain levels, documenting responses and notifying physicians as needed.
• Perform initial patient assessments and triage protocols upon arrival.
• Identify and manage patients at risk for abuse, including mandated reporting and forensic evidence collection.
• Maintain knowledge and compliance with disaster policies and safety interventions for violent behavior.
• Recognize abnormal lab and diagnostic results and notify physicians accordingly.
• Administer vasoactive medications and manage critical drips with appropriate monitoring.
• Identify cardiac arrhythmias and monitor thrombolytic and anticoagulation therapies.
• Manage care for intubated patients including suctioning, troubleshooting, and weaning.
• Interpret arterial blood gases, pulse oximetry, and signs of impaired gas exchange.
• Complete medication reconciliation documentation for attending physicians.
• Implement and monitor compliance with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) bundle protocols.

• Active Registered Nurse license in Massachusetts.
• Associate degree in Nursing required; Bachelor's degree preferred.
• 3-5 years of Emergency Department nursing experience preferred.
• Current ACLS certification upon hire or BLS with ACLS obtained within 60 days.
• BLS certification.

• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification within six months of hire.
• Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC), Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course (ENPC), and Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) credentials preferred.

• Must be able to work independently in a high-stress, fast-paced Emergency Department environment.
• Ability to respond to emergency interventions and prioritize patient care effectively.
• Compliance with mandated reporting for abuse and forensic evidence handling.
• Physical ability to exert force up to 50 pounds occasionally and perform frequent reaching, handling, and stooping.
• Demonstrates behavioral attributes such as achievement motivation, flexibility, initiative, teamwork, and analytical thinking.

• Shift assignments and work schedules are determined by department needs; flexibility to work various shifts may be required.
• May include day, evening, night, weekends, and holiday shifts based on Emergency Department staffing requirements.