Registered Nurse - 7A-7P ER

Emergency Department Nurse

Provides professional nursing care within the Emergency Department; coordinates care planning with other disciplines. Provides direct and indirect patient care in the emergency care setting. Provides care that reflects initiative, flexibility and responsibility indicative of professional expectation with a minimum of supervision. Is able to triage safely, rapidly, and accurately, every patient that enters the emergency care system. Determines priorities of care based on physical and psychosocial needs, as well as factors influencing patient flow through the system. Communicates with Emergency Department physicians about changes in patient's status, symptomatology and results of diagnostic studies. Is able to respond quickly and accurately to changes in condition or response to treatment.

Job Responsibilities:

• Provides direct patient care, evaluates outcomes, consults with other specialists as required and adjusts nursing care processes as indicated to ensure optimal patient care.
• Ability to perform a head-to-toe assessment and reassessments on all patients as per policy. This includes: pediatric, geriatric and the general population.
• Assesses, plan, implements, and educates patient/family on appropriate pain management.
• Ability to monitor hemodynamic status of patient and correctly interpret the results.
• Demonstrates the knowledge of cardiac monitoring, identifies dysrhythmias and communicates with physician.
• Accurately assigns triage categories.
• Maintains accurate and continued nursing documentation including patient histories, conditions, treatments, responses, pain management and assessment of changes.
• Treats patients and their families with respect and dignity. Identifies and addresses psychosocial, cultural, ethnic and religious/spiritual needs of patients and family. Functions as liaison between administration, patients, physicians and other healthcare providers.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and the skills necessary to provide age appropriate care to the patient population served. Able to interpret data about the patient's status in order to identify each patient's age specific needs and provide care needed by the patient group.
• Interacts professionally with patient/family and involves patient/family in the formation of the plan of care.
• Formulates a teaching plan based upon identified learning needs and evaluates effectiveness of learning. Family is included in teaching as appropriate.
• Maintains current general knowledge of medications and their correct administration based on age of the patient and his/her clinical condition.
• Prepares, hangs, monitors and discontinues IV fluids and blood components.
• Maintains established departmental policies and procedures, objectives, performance improvement program, safety, environmental and infection control standards.
• Maintains a safe, comfortable and therapeutic environment for patients and families in accordance with Hospital standards.
• Assist in cost containment through the appropriate ordering and conserving of supplies and equipment.
• Cooperates with other personnel to achieve departmental objectives; maintains good employee relations and interdepartmental objectives.
• Responds promptly to changes in workload, adjusting assignments as necessary to achieve optimal productivity and efficiency.
• Provide resource information to other staff members.
• Demonstrates an ability to assist physicians with procedures in the Emergency Department.
• Supervises temporary employees and employees who do not supervise; allocates and monitors work of others; leads one or more employees performing similar work.
• Orients new employees to the Emergency Department.
• Assist the Emergency Department Nurse Manager in the development, implementation and evaluation of performance improvement indicators to improve patient outcomes and the work environment.
• Enhances professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, current literature, in-service meetings and workshops; shows responsibility for own professional practice and ongoing education.
• Utilizes Chart Access to complete documentation of required patient care activities.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by department supervisor or administration.

Requirements:

Education/Licensure Requirement:

• Graduate of an accredited school of professional nursing
• Current license by this state as a Registered Nurse
• Current ACLS AND PALS (or within 3 months of hire)
• Current TNCC desired (or within 12 months of hire)

Physical Requirements:

• Good physical and mental health and stamina.
• Lifting and moving moderate to heavy objects.
• Tolerates prolonged periods of walking and/or standing.
• Work has occasional stress due to workload pressures.
• Exposure to blood and body fluids; hazardous materials and waste; airborne disease.
• Occasional repetitive exposure to unpleasant and/or disagreeable working conditions; (i.e. odors, dirt, grease/oil, noise, fluctuation in temperatures).
• Basic dexterity-basic eye/hand coordination.
• Ability to function properly under pressure and stress and cope with emergencies.

Experience Requirements:

• Minimum 1 year prior experience as Registered Nurse in critical care or emergency room.
• Basic computer knowledge.
• Proficient in interpreting EKG's.

Professional Requirements:

• Adheres to dress code, appearance is neat and clean.
• Completes annual education requirements.
• Maintains regulatory requirements.
• Maintains patient confidentiality at all times.
• Reports to work on time and as schedule.
• Wears identification while on duty, uses computerized punch time system correctly.
• Attends annual review and performs departmental in-services, as scheduled.
• Attends at least 10 staff meetings annually, reads and signs all monthly staff minutes.
• Represents the organization in a positive and professional manner.
• Works at maintaining a good rapport and a cooperative working relationship with physicians, departments, and staff.
• Actively participates in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement (CQI).
• Complies with all organizational policies regarding ethical business practices.
• Communicates the mission, ethics, and goals of the hospital, as well as the focus statement of the department.