Overview

The Registered Professional Nurse is responsible and accountable for prescribing, delegating and coordinating all nursing care as defined by The New York State Nursing Practice Act and the Emergency Nursing Association. Comprehensive Emergency nursing care focuses on assisting the emergency room patient to achieve emergency treatment that will optimum the patient’s health potential.  This is achieved within the framework of the nursing process.  The Emergency Department Registered Professional Nurse is responsible for care delivery and renders services to Adult and Pediatric patients of all ages.

Responsibilities

In accordance with professional nursing standards and practices, the Emergency Department nurse will provide nursing care to all non-urgent, urgent and emergent patients that present for care to the Emergency Department.

Assessment:

• Assesses patient’s physical, social, behavioral, and mental status through direct observation, interview, past history data, and medical record review.
• Includes assessment from history including EMS report (if applicable), and data collection as obtained from the patient or care providers.
• Utilizes observational skills to assess patient’s needs.
• Documents a nursing assessment to include psychosocial, environmental factors, educational level and needs.
• Obtains and reviews available data base and any data collected by other members of the health team (medical/surgical/other history, physical exam, mental status, therapist reports and community referrals).
• Identifies medical problems resulting from psychological /mental illness and use of medications.
• Communicates findings with other members of the health team. (EMS, Social Worker, Case managers, therapist, Psychiatrist, Physician, Physician Assistants).

Planning:

• Identifies and addresses needs for treatment/admission based on acute medical/surgical diagnoses and presenting physical/psychological symptoms
• Identifies and addresses patient level of education and learning needs.
• Makes appropriate referrals to other disciplines and documents same.

Intervention/Implementation:

• Management of clinical skills in the provision of nursing care and management of the patient including but not limited to:
• Identification of symptoms
• Management of the disease entity
• Treatment modalities
• Administration of medications
• Intervenes appropriately in medical/surgical emergencies utilizing crisis intervention.
• Utilities critical care skills in assessment of patients and in interventions
• Utilizes infection control procedures.
• Provides for psychosocial needs of all critically ill patients.
• Provides health teaching and medication instructions to patient/next of kin.
• Ensures that all procedures are performed based on established standards of care
• Demonstrates competency in performing all procedures within the scope of practice and in accordance with Interfaith Medical Center.
• Investigates and communicates all required information regarding unusual occurrences and patient care related incidents.
• Acts as a patient advocate.

Evaluation:

• Revises the patient’s plan of care based on evaluation of the interventions and expected outcomes in collaboration with other members of the health care team.

Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing.

Experience:

• Minimum one (1) year experience medical/surgical experience.
• Minimum one (1) year Critical/Emergency Department background preferred.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Additional languages preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills.

Licenses, Certifications:

• Current NY State RN License
• Basic Cardiac Life SUpport (BCLS)

Physical Requirements:

• Involves standing, walking, sitting, talking, hearing and bending.
• Environment involves frequent high activity and intense stress levels
• May include some repetitive motions.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position without compromising patient care.