Staff Nurse - Emergency Department

Purpose and Scope of the Job

The Emergency Department staff nurse provides direct and indirect age-specific care for assigned patients in Emergency Room (ER) setting per scheduled shifts. The ER staff nurse is primarily responsible for professional performance and safe patient care. The ER staff Nurse performs triage, organizes patient flow through the emergency unit, and prioritizes care based on patient needs and manages patient presenting with different cases including medical, surgical, Obstetrics and age specific groups (Pediatrics, Geriatrics, etc). ER staff nurse assumes responsibility of all assigned tasks when DASH Emergency Disaster Preparedness Plan is activated. The role encompasses nursing assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention, evaluation, and coordination of care for patients involving families. It includes, but is not limited to, emergency care, cardiac resuscitation and monitoring. The ER staff nurse is accountable for clinical, educational, quality, and fiscal patient care outcomes, in accordance with established DASH and unit specific policies, procedures, guidelines, Professional Practice and standards of practice. Participates in PI projects, collaborates and coordinates patient care with other professional disciplines to ensure effective and efficient desired outcomes. Utilizes knowledge of human development stages, legal issues and cultural diversity into the provision of patient care. Abides by accreditation and international standards.

Supports the mission and vision of the Dar Al Shifa Hospital (DASH) and the Nursing Department.

Main Duties and Responsibilities/Performance Standards

1

Provide age-specific patient-centered care utilizing the nursing process:

• Perform patient assessment using appropriate, problem focused, and age-specific assessment techniques.

• Involve the patient, significant others, and health care providers in the plan of care when appropriate.

• Collaborate with other disciplines through multidisciplinary meetings and care conferences to facilitate patient care and operations.

• Analyze the assessment data, derive nursing interventions, set priorities according to patients needs, formulate a plan of care, implement and evaluate the outcome.

  • • Maintain patient privacy and confidentiality of information all the time.
    • Initiate appropriate admission, discharge or transfer plan.
    • Recognize subtle cues to anticipate potential problems.
    • Document all relevant data in the medical record/ ER forms according to hospital/departmental standards.
    • Ensure availability and maintenance of supplies and equipment needed for the unit and patient care.
    • Ensure that preventive maintenance is performed on time and all equipment are ready for use.
    • Accountable for the use of patients’ and hospital’s resources.
    • Accountable for the patient, the organization, the profession and self.
    • Perform clerical duties when needed.
    • Assume responsibility for meeting accreditation required mandatory education, e.g., fire, safety, infection control and others.
    • Report daily occurrences and unusual incidents to the head nurse/team leader on timely manner without delay.
    • Ensure quality and patient safety practices are followed
    • Provide or promotes patient and family- centered care. Promotes inclusive health by providing equitable and accessible care to patients and families with special needs.

2

Perform major functions pertinent to an ER – Staff Nurse:

• • • Triage and assign patients to ER areas as per the DASH-ER triage policy.
    • Demonstrate required assessment and therapeutic skills.
• • • Abide by the standards of care and practice
    • Demonstrate competence with BLS, ACLS and PALS
    • Provide holistic care to patients including but is not limited to, dealing with all types of emergencies: neurological, cardiovascular, orthopedic, ophthalmic, ENT, endocrine, abdominal, GYN, emergency delivery, genitourinary, psychiatric, toxicological, pediatric, hematological, head and spinal cord injuries, multiple trauma, limb/life saving, shock, burn, child abuse, still birth and neonatal death.
    • Implement and monitor infection control measures.
    • Initiate and handle peripheral Intra Venous lines for administering of fluids and medications.
    • Administer vasoactive and thrombolytic drugs and other medications as per doctor’s order.
    • Deliver pre-operative patient care for emergency surgeries.
    • Apply safety measures related to patient care.
    • Operate all unit required equipment safely.
    • Assist physicians with special procedures, including but not limited to, insertion of central line, application/removal of cast, suturing, peritoneal and gastric lavage, chest tube insertion, paracentesis, pleural tap, lumbar puncture, cut down, dressing application for burn cases, application of cervical collar, vaginal examination and dilatation and curettage.
    • Monitor cardiac rhythm, detect arrhythmias, and manage accordingly.
    • Follow ER protocols in managing mass casualties, and disaster planning according to DASH Emergency Disaster Preparedness Plan.
    • Manage medico-legal issues appropriately (i.e. Death on Arrival (DOA), suicidal attempts, etc).