Registered Nurse, Emergency Department

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

About the Role

The Emergency Department RN provides high-quality, patient-centered care in a fast-paced clinical environment. This role involves assessing patient needs, prioritizing care, and delivering appropriate interventions while continuously evaluating outcomes. The RN collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to ensure coordinated and effective treatment, while serving as a positive and professional role model for patients, families, and colleagues. Using established policies, the RN demonstrates a strong commitment to compassionate care, maintaining a professional attitude that supports patient well-being. The RN promotes physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental health of patients and the broader community through dedicated emergency care.

How You’ll Make an Impact

As the Emergency Department RN, you have a direct impact by delivering timely, high-quality care when patients need it most. You use your clinical judgement to assess and prioritize urgent needs, ensuring safe and effective outcomes. Through your collaboration and communication, you help coordinate care across disciplines, improving the overall patient experience. You also set the tone for the department by modeling professionalism, compassion, and a positive attitude, supporting patients, families, and your team during critical moments.

Patient Care and Clinical Assessment

• Provide direct patient care as the primary Emergency Department nurse in a fast-paced, high-acuity environment.
• Perform comprehensive initial and ongoing patient assessments based on condition, response to treatment, and evolving needs.
• Actively participate as a member of the trauma team, assisting in the management of medical emergencies, including codes and critical events.
• Maintains readiness of treatment areas by ensuring rooms are stocked, organized, and equipment is functional.
• Collect and synthesize clinical data from patients, families, lab results, and interdisciplinary reports.
• Communicate clearly with patients and families regarding plan of care, treatment progress, and discharge instructions.
• Accurately document assessments, interventions, patient responses, and outcomes in accordance with standards of care.
• Ensure all patient records are complete, accurate, and finalized by the end of each shift.

Collaboration and Communication

• Maintain effective communication with physicians, supervisors, and interdisciplinary team members,
• Report patient status changes, concerns, and complaints in a timely manner.
• Foster a collaborative team environment and delegate tasks appropriately to support patient care.
• Build and maintain professional relationships with patients, families, colleagues, and the public.

Quality, Safety, and Compliance

• Adhere to all departmental policies, procedures, and regulatory standards, including HIPAA and Nurse Practice Act requirements.
• Promote a safe patient care environment by identifying and addressing potential hazards.
• Ensure infection control, environmental safety, and quality improvement standards are consistently met.
• Participate in performance improvement initiatives, audits, and data collection.

Customer Service, Professional Practice, and Leadership

• Deliver a positive patient experience through compassionate, respectful, and responsive care.
• Communicate effectively with individuals from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Demonstrate strong teamwork, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills in a high-pressure environment.
• Maintain professionalism, adaptability, and a positive attitude at all times.
• Serve as a role model for clinical excellence, professionalism, and adherence to best practices.
• Contribute to the development and revision of ER policies and procedures.
• Demonstrate ethical decision-making and provide culturally competent, unbiased care.
• Engage in ongoing education, training, and professional development.

Operational and Support Duties

• Utilize equipment and supplies efficiently and responsibly.
• Assist with inventory management, including monitoring and removing outdated supplies.
• Stay informed of departmental updates via email, meetings, and communication.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support departmental needs.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
• Current Kansas State Registered Nurse (RN) license.
• BLS required within 1 month of hire.
• ACLS, PALS, and TNCC certification required within 6 months of hire.
• ENPC certification preferred.
• Strong knowledge of general nursing theory and clinical practice with understanding of applicable laws, regulations, and mandatory reporting requirements in the Emergency Department.
• Ability to apply and adapt nursing principles, methods, and techniques to a variety of patient care situations.

Who You Are

• Energetic and resilient, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-acuity environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport across diverse personalities; tactful, mature, and adaptable.
• Highly organized with excellent time management, critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Effective communicator who can prioritize and manage multiple demands under pressure.
• Service-oriented with the confidence to be appropriately assertive and advocate for patients.
• Advanced IV therapy skills and clinical proficiency.
• Professional in appearance, demeanor, and conduct.

Skills & Capabilities

• Strong clinical judgement and critical thinking skills, with the ability to assess patients, recognize changes in condition, and apply the nursing process effectively.
• Effective communication skills, including the ability to follow strict instructions, provide clear guidance, and deliver patient and family education.
• Ability to prioritize, multitask, and coordinate patient care efficiently in a fast-paced, high-acuity environment.
• Proficient in safe medication administration, including accurate and timely dosage calculations.
• Competent in clinical procedures such as IV therapy, wound care, monitoring, and other bedside nursing skills appropriate to the unit.
• Strong documentation skills with the ability to maintain accurate, timely, and compliant charting.
• Ability to maintain focus and concentration while managing multiple competing priorities.
• Spatial awareness and ability to interpret clinical environments, equipment, and physical relationships effectively.

Position Details

Schedule:

• Full-time RN’s are expected to work 36-40 hours per week. Rotating schedule includes weekends and holidays. Regular and punctual attendance is required.
• Part-time RN’s are expected to work 2 shifts per week, including one weekend per month and one major and minor holiday per year. Regular and punctual attendance is required
• PRN RN’s work shifts as they are able. No guaranteed hours. Punctual attendance is required.

Physical Requirements: Occasional sitting, frequent standing, walking, bending, stooping, kneeling, lifting/carrying 10-50 pounds with occasional lifting/carrying 51-75 pounds; frequent reaching/grasping, twisting, pulling/pushing, occasional exposure to Sharp instruments, exposure to dust and fumes. Frequent exposure to equipment. Continuous writing in English and working irregular hours.

Equipment: Ability to operate equipment safely.

Acknowledgment

I acknowledge that I have reviewed and understand the contents of this job description. I understand that this document may be revised at the organization’s discretion and does not constitute a contract of employment. Employment is at will and may be changed with or without notice, including but not limited to duties, location, compensation, benefits, or employment status.