ER Nurse
Content
EMERGENCY NURSE
Emergency nurses provide rapid assessment and treatment to patients in the initial phase of illness or trauma and often in life-threatening situations. Emergency nurses usually hold an undergraduate degree in nursing and most often work in hospital emergency rooms and trauma centers.
Job Description of the Nurse on Duty
In Patient Care
a. Plan to meet the total nursing needs of the patient. b. Supervise all nursing attendants related directly and indirectly to patient care. c. Evaluate of the effectiveness of patient care. d. Evaluate if the effectiveness of the patient care, e. Promote the improvement of the patient care. f. Give direct nursing care to the patient.
g. Responsible for the accurate assessments and documenting treatments and care rendered whether it may be independent, interdependent or dependent. h. Responsible for execution of doctor’s order.
In Unit Management
a. Plan for the environment conducive to the physical, spiritual well -being of the patient. b. Participate in the formulation, interpreting and implementing objectives and policies of nursing care. c. Promote good nurse-patient relationship. d. Promote the improvement of nursing service in the unit, e. Teach and guide all new nursing personnel in the unit. f. Assist in the orientation program of the new nursing personnel in the unit.
g. Demonstrate new procedures and use of the new equipment in the unit. h. Impart health teaching in personal hygiene to the patient and member of the family.
Job Duties
The most important responsibility for an emergency nurse is understanding triage, which is a method of prioritizing injuries based on medical need. An emergency nurse must have the ability to make quick and accurate assessments about incoming patients, including both physical and mental health conditions.
Time management is crucial in this job. Along with triage, emergency nurses must quickly ascertain the following information from incoming patients: Identify the medical problem Document medical history Check for any allergies and current medications Obtain height, weight, body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure
Other responsibilities include moving patients, taking blood samples, cleaning and bandaging wounds, administering medications and maintaining proper supplies of medical equipment. As with other health care professionals, emergency nurses are expected to comply with protocols, procedures and safety policies of a health care facility. Emotional stability, communication, leadership, sympathy and attention to detail are traits common among successful emergency nurses.
Duties and Responsibilities of the Emergency Nurse on Duty (ER NOD)
The continuity of nursing care is maintained throughout a 24-hour period by three 8-hour shifts. The ER-Nurse is responsible for individualized patient care, placing patient in rooms and liaising with case management. I. Endorsement Receive endorsement from 10-6 shift. Receive the unit, check supplies and instruments available for the ER Department. Receive and check patients in the IE Room, Surgery and Hydration Partition and Core Room as well as the Incoming patients during shift transition. Check the available rooms per department for admission of patient for the shift. Check ER Logbook and verify if records from previous shift were returned to the information section.
II. Patient Care Give oral medication and injection as ordered. Prepare and administer intravenous therapy as ordered. Assist in treatment and special procedure to be done for the patient. Prepare the patient with medicine secured from supplies if indigent. Explain the diagnostic procedures like X-ray, ECG, UTZ that the patient will be subject to.
III. Ward Policies Answer telephone calls. Make sure that only one companion comes with the patient in the ER. Make sure that the patient or the significant other is informed about any procedure prior to execution.
IV. Proper Documentation Check the admission documents, referral request and prescription before patient were discharged or transferred. Document all medical treatment and nursing intervention given to the patient. Document or report any untoward incident during the shift in a clean piece of paper. Indicate the date and time of incident, people involved, actual scenario, with the signature over printed name of the Nurse on Duty and address it to the Supervisor or Head Nurse. V. Housekeeping and Maintenance Supervise and guide the nursing attendant within the shift. Report out of order equipment and instruments to the Head Nurse. Request supplies from Central Supply Room for ER use.
VI. Supplies and Equipments
• • • •
Check available instruments for procedures. Refill containers with supplies like dried or wet cotton balls soaked with saline, alcohol or betadine. Clean instruments and gloves for autoclaving. List supplies, instruments and equipment needed for the following day that needs to be endorsed to the incoming NOD for requisition.
Emergency nurses provide rapid assessment and treatment to patients in the initial phase of illness or trauma and often in life-threatening situations. Emergency nurses usually hold an undergraduate degree in nursing and most often work in hospital emergency rooms and trauma centers.
Job Description of the Nurse on Duty
In Patient Care
a. Plan to meet the total nursing needs of the patient. b. Supervise all nursing attendants related directly and indirectly to patient care. c. Evaluate of the effectiveness of patient care. d. Evaluate if the effectiveness of the patient care, e. Promote the improvement of the patient care. f. Give direct nursing care to the patient.
g. Responsible for the accurate assessments and documenting treatments and care rendered whether it may be independent, interdependent or dependent. h. Responsible for execution of doctor’s order.
In Unit Management
a. Plan for the environment conducive to the physical, spiritual well -being of the patient. b. Participate in the formulation, interpreting and implementing objectives and policies of nursing care. c. Promote good nurse-patient relationship. d. Promote the improvement of nursing service in the unit, e. Teach and guide all new nursing personnel in the unit. f. Assist in the orientation program of the new nursing personnel in the unit.
g. Demonstrate new procedures and use of the new equipment in the unit. h. Impart health teaching in personal hygiene to the patient and member of the family.
Job Duties
The most important responsibility for an emergency nurse is understanding triage, which is a method of prioritizing injuries based on medical need. An emergency nurse must have the ability to make quick and accurate assessments about incoming patients, including both physical and mental health conditions.
Time management is crucial in this job. Along with triage, emergency nurses must quickly ascertain the following information from incoming patients: Identify the medical problem Document medical history Check for any allergies and current medications Obtain height, weight, body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure
Other responsibilities include moving patients, taking blood samples, cleaning and bandaging wounds, administering medications and maintaining proper supplies of medical equipment. As with other health care professionals, emergency nurses are expected to comply with protocols, procedures and safety policies of a health care facility. Emotional stability, communication, leadership, sympathy and attention to detail are traits common among successful emergency nurses.
Duties and Responsibilities of the Emergency Nurse on Duty (ER NOD)
The continuity of nursing care is maintained throughout a 24-hour period by three 8-hour shifts. The ER-Nurse is responsible for individualized patient care, placing patient in rooms and liaising with case management. I. Endorsement Receive endorsement from 10-6 shift. Receive the unit, check supplies and instruments available for the ER Department. Receive and check patients in the IE Room, Surgery and Hydration Partition and Core Room as well as the Incoming patients during shift transition. Check the available rooms per department for admission of patient for the shift. Check ER Logbook and verify if records from previous shift were returned to the information section.
II. Patient Care Give oral medication and injection as ordered. Prepare and administer intravenous therapy as ordered. Assist in treatment and special procedure to be done for the patient. Prepare the patient with medicine secured from supplies if indigent. Explain the diagnostic procedures like X-ray, ECG, UTZ that the patient will be subject to.
III. Ward Policies Answer telephone calls. Make sure that only one companion comes with the patient in the ER. Make sure that the patient or the significant other is informed about any procedure prior to execution.
IV. Proper Documentation Check the admission documents, referral request and prescription before patient were discharged or transferred. Document all medical treatment and nursing intervention given to the patient. Document or report any untoward incident during the shift in a clean piece of paper. Indicate the date and time of incident, people involved, actual scenario, with the signature over printed name of the Nurse on Duty and address it to the Supervisor or Head Nurse. V. Housekeeping and Maintenance Supervise and guide the nursing attendant within the shift. Report out of order equipment and instruments to the Head Nurse. Request supplies from Central Supply Room for ER use.
VI. Supplies and Equipments
• • • •
Check available instruments for procedures. Refill containers with supplies like dried or wet cotton balls soaked with saline, alcohol or betadine. Clean instruments and gloves for autoclaving. List supplies, instruments and equipment needed for the following day that needs to be endorsed to the incoming NOD for requisition.
