Purpose

Provides and directs safe, effective, and culturally competent patient care for all groups requiring stabilization, and/or resuscitation. Key accountabilities include assessment, diagnosis, outcomes identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation of care using critical thinking and evidenced-based practice; triaging and prioritizing care need; crisis intervention for unique patient populations; and emergency operations preparedness; adherence to the Professional Practice Standards as defined by ANA; and active participation in quality monitoring and performance improvement activities.

Essential Job Functions

• An ED registered nurse's essential functions include:
• rapidly assessing and triaging incoming patients,
• stabilizing critical conditions,
• initiating immediate treatment plans,
• performing necessary medical procedures,
• administering medications,
• coordinating with other healthcare professionals,
• and providing patient education in a fast-paced emergency department environment;
• all while maintaining accurate patient records
• adhering to established protocols.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Patient Assessment and Triage:
• Performing initial patient assessment to identify urgent medical needs.
• Triaging patients based on acuity and prioritizing care.
• Gathering patient history and performing physical examinations.
• Immediate Stabilization:
• Initiating life-saving interventions for critical patients, including CPR.
• Managing airway and breathing difficulties.
• Establishing intravenous access and administering medications
• Treatment and Procedures:
• Performing wound care and assisting provider with suturing
• Applying splints and immobilization devices
• Monitoring vital signs and managing pain
• Performing basic laboratory tests and interpreting results
• Collaboration and Communication:
• Communicating effectively with emergency physicians, other healthcare team members, and ancillary services
• Updating patient records and documenting care provided
• Collaborating on treatment plans and patient disposition
• Patient Education and Support:
• Providing clear instructions and discharge planning to patients and families
• Offering emotional support and addressing patient concerns

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities - Competencies

• Critical thinking and decision-making:
• Ability to quickly assess patient conditions and make rapid treatment decisions in high-pressure situations.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and ability to apply age specific principles of growth and development and life stages to meet each patient’s needs
• Advanced nursing skills:
• Proficiency in performing advanced life support procedures, wound management, and medication administration.
• Time management:
• Efficiently managing multiple patients with varying needs in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to balance information regarding patient needs, staff needs, and medical center needs in decision making
• Communication skills:
• Clear and concise communication with patients, families, and healthcare team members.
• Demonstrated ability to promote positive interpersonal relationships and patient/family centered work environment
• Stress tolerance:
• Ability to remain calm and focused under pressure.

Supervisory Responsibility

Direction: The job requires some accountability for scheduling, assigning, or coordinating work. Employees check the quality of work and provide guidance, instruction, training and direction to others. Although the job does not require formal or official supervisory responsibility, the incumbent serves as group leader or acts in an informal "assistant supervisory" or "lead" role. In addition, the employee may be expected to provide information or suggestions on human resources matters.

Materials Responsibility

Limited: Work requires limited responsibility for material resources. Examples of resources could include supplies, equipment, inventories, small budgets, and other similar material assets. The employee has a limited amount of control over these resources. The cost of error is also limited in terms of damage, waste or financial loss. Problems associated with material resources are not complex. The volume of resources may vary, but the level of difficulty in dealing with these resources is uncomplicated.

Key Relationships

Co-workers/JCRHC Employees, Outside Agencies/Other Health Care Providers, General Public/ Visitors/Volunteers, Physicians/Medical Office Staff, Students/ Outside Instructors, Patients, Families, and Significant Others

Position Specifications

Education

Associates Degree

Field of Study

Nursing

Special Training

ACLS; TNCC; BLS; PALS; CPI, Dependent Adult/Child Abuse Mandatory Reporter Training within timelines established in the Licensure, Registration, Certification and Life Saving training policy.

Training Preferred

Baccalaureate in Nursing, ENPC, NRP, CEN

Licensure / Registration

Registered Nurse in Iowa

Experience

Preferred at least 1 year in critical care.

Interpersonal Skills

Interaction is with a variety of people inside and outside the organization. Communications are of moderate difficulty and sensitivity. Contact with others may involve detailed & length dialogues & exchanges of information. Requires a moderate amount of interpersonal skills. Interactions involve dealing with moderately complicated problem situations and stressful encounters.

Working Conditions:

There is routine exposure to highly adverse environmental conditions including physical hazards, health and safety risks, and otherwise undesirable characteristics in the environment. Personal risks require safety equipment and precautions to be followed closely. The time the employee may be exposed to these conditions is limited to 70% or less of the work day.

Possible Exposure to Blood Borne Pathogens

Yes

Service Excellence Expectations

• Adheres to the “Values and Behavior Statement” of Jackson County Regional Health Center.
• Adheres to HIPAA and maintains confidentiality as relates to all patient and medical information.
• Works in a safe manner at all times and adheres to our safety programs and service expectations.