ER Registered Nurse - FT Night Shift - Austin Emergency Center

Job Summary

The Emergency Room Nurse provides direct and indirect patient care in the emergency care setting and provides care that reflects initiative, flexibility and responsibility indicative of professional expectation with a minimum of supervision. The Emergency Room Nurse can triage safely, rapidly and accurately, every patient that enters the emergency care system.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Determine priorities of care based on physical and psychosocial needs, as well as factors influencing patient flow through the system.
• Communicate with Emergency Department physicians about changes in patient's status, symptomatology and results of diagnostic studies.
• Able to respond quickly and accurately to changes in condition or response to treatment.
• Maintain awareness of current ER operational policies and procedures which impact position responsibilities.
• Demonstrate current comprehensive and professional knowledge and skills in conformation with recognized nursing standards including the Patient Bill of Rights standards for patientcare and the Nurse Practice Act.
• Provide direct patient care, evaluate outcomes, consult with other specialists as required and adjust nursing care processes as indicated to ensure optimal patient care.
• Able to perform a head‑to‑toe assessment on all patients and reassessments as per policy, including pediatric, adolescent and geriatric patients and the general patient population.
• Able to use triage process to ensure timely and appropriate care to patients and accurately assign triage categories.
• Able to adequately assess and reassess pain, utilize appropriate pain management techniques, and educate the patient and family regarding pain management.
• Able to monitor the hemodynamic status of patient and correctly interpret the results.
• Demonstrate knowledge of cardiac monitoring to identify dysrhythmias.
• Able to interpret the results of moderate and waived tests and take appropriate action on test results.
• Maintain current knowledge of medications and their correct administration based on age of the patient and his/her clinical condition.
• Maintain accurate and continued nursing documentation including patient histories, conditions, treatments, responses and assessment of changes.
• Perform all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors.
• Interact professionally with patient and family and involve patient and family in the formation of the plan of care.
• Formulate a teaching plan based on identified learning needs and evaluate effectiveness of learning, including family in teaching as appropriate.
• Maintain a safe, comfortable and therapeutic environment for patients and families in accordance with ER standards.
• Ensure an adequate stock of supplies and proper functioning of equipment.
• Assist in cost containment through appropriate ordering and conserving of supplies and equipment.
• Perform quality control procedures and maintain records on these checks.
• Perform calibrations in compliance with manufacturer’s requirements.
• Ensure proficiency testing specimens are done in compliance with policy.
• Oversee documentation of temperatures/humidity checks.
• Maintain current appropriate and needed policies and procedures.
• Demonstrate knowledge of new testing methods, products and instrumentation; remain informed on all current technologies.
• Maintain inventory of necessary supplies and submit orders for restocking as needed.
• Demonstrate the values to team concept on a consistent basis.
• Interact professionally with all department members, physicians, staff, administration and supportive staff.
• Responsible for documenting correct information for compliance purposes.
• Remain knowledgeable about appropriate testing procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications, Education Experience, Skills

Education & Experience

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
• At least 3–5 years of Emergency Room experience, strongly preferred.

Language/Math/Reasoning Ability

• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.
• Ability to write simple correspondence.
• Ability to effectively present information in one‑on‑one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situation.

Computer Skills

• Basic computer skills.

Certificate/License

• Current RN license within the state of practice.
• Current BCLS, ACLS, and PALS Certification.

Physical Demands

• Moderate physical activity performing somewhat strenuous daily activities of a primarily product/technical nature.
• Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, pull, or otherwise move objects; manual dexterity sufficient to reach/handle items, works with the fingers, and perceives attributes of objects and materials.
• Physical: ascending or descending stairs, ramps and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms; maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery or erratically moving surfaces; bending legs downward and forward by bending leg and spine; using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward; standing, particularly for sustained periods of time; using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, drag, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion; raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving object horizontally from position to position; substantial movements (motion) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers in a repetitive manner.

Work Environment

• The work environment is in a comfortable indoor area.
• Conditions such as noise, odors, cramped workspace and/or fumes could sometimes cause discomfort.
• Frequent periods of concentrated or focused attention will be needed to interpret visual, auditory and sensory inputs.
• May be exposed to such occupational hazards as communicable diseases, radiation, and disoriented or combative patients.