RN (Registered Nurse)

- Trauma Level? STEMI Receiving? Stroke Center? "Level 4 trauma center. STEMI receiving. Not a designated stroke center, they have a telestroke partnership with WVU since 2015. Patients are transferred to either UPMC or Pittsburg" - # of Beds/Trauma Bays :15 beds main ED. 6 beds zone 2 (fast track) - Do you have a Fast Track?:6 bed Fast Track area - Do you have a separate Triage area? If so, do you allow/require travelers to do Triage?:Two triage rooms. Travelers are allowed to be assigned the triage rooms for their shift. Travelers will triage patients at the bedside. - Do you have a separate holding area in the ER or are ER holds intermixed w/in the ER?:Holds are intermixed with ED patients - Do you have separate Psych/seclusion rooms?: One dedicated psych/seclusion room that is in the department with all the other rooms. Room functions as a regular room when no psych pt is in department - Is Security in-house 24/7? Housed in the ER? :Security in the building 24/7. One guard is present at the ED entrance most times (unless they are out doing rounds) - On average, how many patients do you treat in the ER/day?: 95 - Nurse:Patient Ratios: Typically 1:4. Sometimes 1:5 if we utilize hall beds - Required Certifications (i.e., BLS, ACLS, PALS, TNCC, ENPC, NRP, NIHSS?) "BLS, ACLS, PALS are required. TNCC and NIHSS preferred" - Common diagnoses/Types of patients: chest pain, abd pain, shortness of breath, falls, stroke like symptoms, altered mental status, back pain. We have an elderly population in this area. - Experience or 'Must have' skills: "Travelers must have at least 2 years of ED experience. - Prefer prior trauma experience" - Common drips:: Must be comfortbale titrating all critical drips. Common drips include: norepinephrine,propofol, diltiazem, heparin, epinephrine, midazolam, fentanyl, amiodarone, phenylephrine - ED Physician &/or Mid-Levels staffed? Generally how many are on at a time? 3 ED physicians for 24 hrs (one 7a- 7p, one 11a-11p, one 7p-7a). One midlevel provider (PA) 11a-11p that runs zone 2 (fast track) - Is there a Charge Nurse on each shift? Does the charge nurse take an assignment? "1 charge nurse 7a-7p and 1 charge nurse 7p-7a. The day charge nurse is the triage nurse from at least 7a-1p. They float from 1-7p. The night charge nurse is a float from 7-11p and then triage from 11p-7a. Both charges will take patients early in the morning/late at night if department is busy." - Are there nurse aids/EMT/Paramedics/Patient Sitters on each shift? Ratios? Duties? "We have 3 ED techs for 24 hrs (one 7a-7p, one 11a-11p, one 7p-7a). They are all paramedics. - Job Duties: EKGs, urine POC testing, transport patients, assist with special procedures, stock rooms, room patients. They do not adminster medications." - Is RT in the ER 24/7? Do they do ABGs, breathing Tx, & EKGs? RT is 24/7 in the building, but are assigned to another unit along with ED. They perform ABGs, breathing treatments, and assist the physician with intubation. - RT Equipment (Vents, Cpap, BiPap, High Flow, etc.) Are RNs required to do anything with these besides trouble shoot? RT is responsible for vents and bipaps. Nursing will administer high flow oxygen via nasal cannula/NRB. RNs will call RT to troubleshoot equipment. - Do you have Tele/Monitor Techs in the ER? Are RNs required to read their own strips? What brand are the Tele monitors? There are no monitor techs in the ED. RNs are responsible to read their own strips. The monitors are Nihon Kohden - X-Ray or CT in the ER? Transport?:Xray and CT are just outside the ED. There are transport personnel, but no transporter is dedicated to the ED. - Does Phlebotomy draw labs or RNs draw? RNs draw all labs except for type and cross/screen. That is completed by phlebotomy - Shifts & Scheduling (Do you allow self-scheduling? Block scheduling?) "7-7, 9-9, 11-11, 1-1, 3-3; Utilize a Modified Self-Schedule system. Schedule is typically made out 4 weeks in advnace for 4 weeks a time. Travelers will be asked for their ""ideal"" schedule and/or any days they cannot work. Manager works hard to accomodate requests, but asks that travelers are flexible and help to fill gaps in permanent scheduling. Night shift typically have more a block schedule where they work 3-6 shifts in a row. Techs and ward clerks are union and requried to have set schedules. " - Weekend Requirements Every other weekend - Holiday Requirements "May be asked to go in the Holiday Rotation; RNs follow the A and B holiday rotation as outlined by HR. Techs and ward clerks are union positions and follow their set schedule" - Is there call or a standby requirement? No, SANE nurses will have an on-call schedule when our SANE program is up and running. -Floating Requirements:ED staff does not float to other units. - Scrub Color/Dress Code:Navy blue How many shifts of unit/department specific orientation?:1-3 days with a preceptor