Job Description

Responsible for direction of patient care activities in the Emergency Department. Manages staff in the Emergency Department, provides management of operational and nursing activities. Consults with staff, physicians and the Chief Nursing Officer on nursing problems and interpretation of hospital policies to ensure patient needs are met.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for direction of the Emergency Department staff.
• Supports and empowers staff to embrace the mission and value statements of the hospital.
• Ability to perform a head-to-toe assessment on all patients and reassessments as per policy. This includes pediatric, adolescent, geriatric patients and the general patient population.
• Uses the triage process to ensure timely and appropriate care to patients.
• Accurately assigns triage categories.
• Ability to adequately assess and reassess pain.
• Utilizes appropriate pain management techniques.
• Educates the patient and family regarding pain management.
• Ability to monitor hemodynamic status of patient and correctly interpret the results.
• Maintains current knowledge of medications and their correct administration
• based on age of the patient and his/her clinical condition.
• Follows the five (5) medication rights and reduces the potential for medication errors.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and the skills necessary to provide age appropriate care to the patients 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.
• Formulates a teaching plan based on identified learning needs and evaluates effectiveness of learning; includes family in teaching, as appropriate.
• 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.
• Interacts professionally with patient/family and involves patient/family in the formation of the plan of care.
• Demonstrates knowledge of cardiac monitoring, identifies dysrhythmias and treats appropriately.
• Performs all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors.
• Ability to perform waived testing (point-of-care testing) per Clinical Laboratory’s and the patient care unit’s policies and procedures.
• Ability to interpret the results of waived tests; take appropriate action on waived tests results.
• Manages and operates equipment safely and correctly. Maintains department cleanliness and safety. Complies with ongoing departmental inspections of equipment and physical space. Makes recommendations regarding equipment utilization and needs.
• Communicates appropriately and clearly to physicians, staff and administrative team.
• Coordinates and directs patient care to ensure patients’ needs are met and hospital policy is followed.
• Maintains adequate staff levels that meet unit requirements and state law.
• Maintains records pertinent to personnel and operation of the department.
• Prepares reports regarding Emergency Department services, i.e., utilization, performance improvement, service data, outcome data, productivity, including long term capital budget and short-term operational budget.
• Demonstrates an ability to be flexible, organized and function under stressful situations.
• Maintains a good working relationship both within and outside the department as well as community partners.
• Consults other departments, as appropriate, to collaborate in patient care and performance improvement activities.
• Maintains performance improvement activities for department. Performs competency evaluations of all staff members.
• Assures documentation meets current standards and policies.
• Provides education to staff on performance improvement.
• Ability to plan and organize orientation and in-service training for department staff members; participates in guidance and educational programs.
• Performs management activities including interviewing, hiring, evaluating, termination, departmental staffing, scheduling, employee and patient rounding.
• Trains personnel, utilizing on-the-job training for nursing and other hospital staff, as well as departmental staff.
• Studies current trends and developments in emergency nursing through current literature and professional society.
• Maintains standards of professional society procedures and ethical behavior.

Requirements

Professional Requirements:

• Ensures that appearance and personal conduct are professional at all times.
• Adheres to dress code, appearance is neat and clean. Wears appropriate clothing for job functions.
• Reports to work on time and as scheduled. Excellent attendance record.
• Maintains and ensures patient confidentiality at all times.
• Wears identification while on duty.
• Completes annual educational requirements, performs department in-services and returns in a timely fashion.
• Represents the organization in a positive and professional manner in the community.
• Maintains regulatory requirements, including all state, federal and CMS regulations related to the Emergency Department and, as appropriate, the hospital.
• Attends committee, CQI and management meetings as appropriate.
• Works at maintaining a good rapport and a cooperative working relationship with physicians, staff and community partners.
• Ensures compliance with policies and procedures regarding department operations, fire, safety and infection control.
• Maintains medical staff rules/regulations, as well as regulatory body standards.
• Effectively and consistently communicates administrative directives to personnel and encourages interactive departmental meetings and discussions.
• Complies with all organizational policies regarding ethical business practices.
• Communicates the mission, vision, core values, ethics and goals of the facility, as well as the mission statement of the department.

Regulatory Requirements:

• Bachelors of Science in Nursing degree from an accredited school of nursing with three (3) or more years experience in all aspects of critical care nursing preferred.
• Current RN License within the state of practice.
• Successful completion of critical care course.
• Current BCLS certification.
• Current ACLS certification.
• PALS within six (6) months of hire.
• TNCC within one (1) year of hire.
• ENPC (Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course) preferred.
• Certification for Emergency Nursing (CEN) preferred.
• Successful completion of Neonatal Resuscitation certification.