Registered Nurse - Emergency Services 7P-7A

Registered Nurse

The Registered Nurse utilizes the nursing process to assess the patient needs, plan and implement patient care activities, direct, and evaluate the delivery of nursing care through other members of the nursing team. The ER nurse is accountable for delivery of patient care the ER during the shift. She/He is responsible for meeting the established standards of nursing care, managing assigned personnel and promoting collaboration among the disciplines and demonstrates a loyalty to the philosophy, policies, and practices of the institution.

Minimum Education

Holds an active Registered Nurse license and is eligible to practice in the state of Kentucky.

Current BLS certification

ACLS and PALS to be completed by the end of the orientation period.

TNCC required within 6-12 months of hire date into the department and CEN certification recommended.

Required Skills

Must be able to follow directions and to perform work according to department standards when no directions are given.

Must be emotionally mature, able to prioritize tasks and able to function effectively under stress.

Physical Requirements

Sitting - 1-15%

Walking - Greater than 32%

Standing - Greater than 32%

Bending/Squatting - 16-31%

Climbing/Kneeling - 1-15%

Twisting - 1-15%

OSHA Category

High Potential for Direct Body Fluid Exposure

Visual and Hearing Requirements

Must be able to see with corrective eyewear.

Color vision ability required.

Must be able to hear clearly with assistance.

Other Physical/Environmental Demands

Lifting - 0-50lbs, 50lbs or more with assistance

Carrying - 0-50lbs, 50lbs or more with assistance

Pulling - up to 200lbs

Pushing - up to 200lbs

Leadership Capabilities

Supports the hospital Mission, Service and Values.

Essential Functions

Collects pertinent health data, including psychological, environmental and physiological factors, using appropriate assessment techniques.

Ensures that the data collection process is systemic and ongoing.

Analyzes the assessment data in determining patient problems.

Documents assessment data in a manner that facilitates the determination of expected outcomes and the plan of care.

Develops a plan of care with the patient/significant other that is individual to the patient's needs.

Routinely evaluates the plan of care and revises as needed based on patient assessment.

Communicates and collaborates with other health care providers as needed, ensuring continuity of care.

Implements interventions in a safe, appropriate, and timely manner to aid in the attainment of patient goals.

Documents interventions in an appropriate and timely manner.

Implements and documents patient and family teaching as part of the plan of care.

Serves as a team leader for a group of personnel providing nursing care to a number of patients.

Assigns tasks or delegates care based on the needs of the patient and the knowledge and skill of the provider selected.

Operates or supervises safe operation of patient care equipment.

Accounts for and ensures the security of narcotics during the assigned shift.

Contributes to the professional development of peers, colleagues, and others by sharing knowledge and skills, and by providing constructive feedback regarding their practice.

Attentive to detail, record keeping and transcription of orders.

Promotes confidentiality and uses complete discretion when discussing information.

Floats to other areas as assigned, responds to floating requests with a positive attitude.

Answers telephone, call system, and greets visitors professionally, and routes information received to the appropriate personnel.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Participates in 75% of staff meetings as evidenced by attendance records.

Completes competency assignments as evidenced by in-service attendance records.

Essential Functions - ER Specific

Operates or supervises safe operation of specialized patient care equipment including but not limited to the defibrillator, suctioning equipment, pleur-evac, ventilator, central monitoring system, and cautery.

Assessment: Performs initial triage assessment to include rapid, systemic collection of data related to the patient's chief complaint.

Initiates accurate and on-going assessment of problems of patients within the emergency care system.

Analysis/Plan: Initiates triage assessment to analyze and determine acuity, patient care area, and appropriate interventions.

Nurses assigned triage are to have a minimum of one year of emergency department experience, completed triage training requirements initially and annually and demonstrate the ability to:

Use a valid and reliable triage system to assign triage acuity and implement appropriate interventions according to organizational policy.

Document relevant data and triage acuity and communicate significant findings to appropriate team members.

Assesses the skin integrity on trauma, nursing home residents, and incapacitated patients that are admitted to the Emergency center.

Demonstrates knowledge of cardiac monitoring, identifies cardiac dysrhythmias and begins initial treatment appropriately.

Demonstrates knowledge of emergency procedures including, but not limited to chest tube insertion, central line placement, Ewald tube placements, suturing and the ability to assist physicians in the emergency center.

Assists the Emergency Department Director in the development, implementation, and evaluation of performance improvement indicators to improve patient outcomes and the work environment.

Responds to Code Blue events in other areas of the facility.

Patient Population Served- Pediatric/Adolescent/Adult/Geriatric

Demonstrates knowledge of patient population served development norms and addresses abnormal findings.

Demonstrates knowledge of appropriate assessments and planning of care for patient population served.

Demonstrates competency and knowledge of appropriate equipment for patient population served.

Demonstrates appropriate airway management and suctioning technique for patient population served.

Demonstrates appropriate awareness for suspected abuse/neglect for patient population served and takes measures to report them according to protocol.

Identifies and plans for appropriate safety precautions to be taken to prevent injury in the patient population served.

Demonstrates competency and knowledge in the proper technique for the administration of medication for the patient population served.

Demonstrates knowledge of appropriate technique to obtain vital signs and is able to interpret norms for the patient population served.

Demonstrates knowledge of location and use of emergency equipment and drugs for the patient population served.

Provides education to patient/family based on identified learning needs of the patient population served.