An Emergency Room Nurse is primarily responsible for developing a patient care plan after a quick and thorough evaluation of a patient’s injuries. Common responsibilities include bone setting, blood transfusions, wound care, medication administration, and much more. Similarly, an Emergency Room Nurse will chart vitals and monitor the patient’s condition like a typical Registered Nurse (RN).
However, Emergency Room Nurses work in a fast-paced environment that requires quick thinking and decision making. There are no fixed tasks for Emergency Room Nurses since their patients are quickly treated and moved to another ward. Oftentimes, nursing professionals in this field enjoy spontaneity and not having a fixed routine. Though they constantly experience high levels of stress compared to other registered nurse jobs, Emergency Room Nurses receive high satisfaction with their rewarding career.
What are the Emergency Room Nurse Qualifications?
Emergency Room Nurses are required to have the same degree and certifications like any other registered nursing job. They must have a Bachelor degree in nursing and a state license. Additionally, certifications for BLS/CPR and ACLR are highly necessary in the Emergency Room. A clear distinction between an Emergency Room Nurse and RN is the Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) certification.
Obtaining the CEN certificate requires RNs to go through serious training to apply health theories to real life situations. This helps develop their decision making skills to draw conclusions in an accurate, ethical and effective manner. RNs are eligible to take the CEN exam after two years of emergency room experience. Therefore, the complete list of requirements for RNs are:
- ADN or BSN in Nursing.
- Passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN).
- Active state license as a registered nurse.
- Current BLS/CPR and ACLS certification.
- CEN certification.
Desirable qualities an Emergency Room Nurse should have are:
- Quick thinkers who can develop a treatment pathway and direct their team.
- Ability to stay grounded and focused at all times in the ER.
- Crisis management skills to assess and manage the emergency.
- Highly flexible with their schedule to address patient’s current needs.
- Monitor, record, and update patient vitals to note any significant health changes.
- Detail-oriented when taking notes and vitals with the ability to deliver an assessment on patient’s health status to other team members.
- High emotional intelligence to create a positive patient care experience that includes simplifying medical terminology and concepts to the patient
What are the Emergency Room Nurse Job Responsibilities?
So, what are the specific responsibilities that make this nursing specialty different? An Emergency Room Nurse typically:
- Demonstrates accurate assessment skills, appropriate to the age of the patient, based on scientific facts and principles.
- Performs and documents ongoing assessments including observation, physical examination, laboratory/test results, and patient response to procedural intervention.
- Participates in the identification and clarification of patient needs, as evidenced by participation in multidisciplinary care planning, to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
- Implements, reviews and revises plan of care according to change in patient’s status.
- Implements plan of care according to identified physical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs/
- Prioritizes nursing interventions commensurate with patient’s needs.
- Utilizes effective verbal and written communication skills through the presentation of pertinent information.
- Coordinates and documents appropriate discharge planning and referrals to ensure continuity of care after discharge.
- Shares knowledge and acts as a professional resource to other members of the health care team.
How do I know if Emergency Room Nursing is right for me?
There are many registered nurse jobs to pursue. Each department presents a unique nursing specialty with its own set of responsibilities and qualifications. The ER is extremely fast-paced and will always be in action. Shifts won’t be monotonous because you’ll help new patients with different health conditions every time. If you enjoy having an exciting and invigorating schedule, consider becoming an Emergency Room Nurse.
Where are the Registered Nursing Jobs Near Me?
Working with Eisenhower Health presents Registered Nurses the opportunity to explore various nursing specialities, so you can deliver outstanding care to our patients in Palm Springs CA. Check out our available registered nurse positions, specifically in the Emergency Room, Intensive Care Unit and Surgery Room.
Originally posted on 15/4/2021