ER Nurse Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Are you searching for an ER nurse job description? Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of an ER nurse. Feel free to use our ER nurse job description template to produce your own ER nurse job description. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as an ER nurse.
Who is an ER Nurse?
ER nurses are also known as emergency nurses or trauma nurses. The work of an ER nurse is quite demanding and stressful. They are on-demand always and are called to act quickly to treat patients suffering from medical emergencies ranging from car accidents and suicide attempts to strokes and heart attacks. An ER nurse needs to be trained and ready to take decisive actions in any critical or in most cases life-threatening situations. Since ER nurses work in the emergency room they live for the excitement of new and constantly changing circumstances, identify medical issues, determine severity, and provide immediate support to minimize negative long-term effects and, if necessary, even sustain lives. ER nurses are the first responders when a patient is admitted to the emergency room, so they must be capable of working in crises, they must be able to quickly identify the best way to stabilize patients and minimize pain, assess dire situations quickly and make the right decision always.
ER Nurse Job Description
What is an ER nurse job description? an ER nurse job description is simply a list of duties and responsibilities of an ER nurse in an organization. Below are the ER nurse job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write an ER nurse job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of an ER nurse include the following:
- Working under pressure even in crises.
- Leading emergency response teams that are to ensure proper care are given to patient even in dire situations.
- Assessing or triaging a patient’s need at the cause of admission or arrival to the hospital.
- Complying with all legal and safety requirements stipulated for the well-being of individuals at all times.
- Maintaininga clean, sanitary, and organized work environment.
- Working at maximum efficiency without compromising the quality of care.
- Abiding by all hospital rules and regulations.
- Reviewing medical histories and reports of patients even before administering treatment.
- Updating electronic medical records of each patient undergoing medication.
- Carrying out treatment plans as prescribed by the medical professional.
- Showing empathy for those in suffering or pain.
- Providing follow-up care to patients to ensure treatments work correctly or effectively.
- Assisting the medical professional with diagnostic procedures and tests of patients.
- Using advanced equipment to monitor and treat patients for effective recovery.
- Cleaning and dressing wounds properly prevent infections or relapses.
- Administering medications to minimize pain and stabilize a patient’s condition.
- Discharging patients from the ER when they are stable or fit.
- Staying current with the latest technique for proffering excellent care to different kinds of patients.
- Performing minor procedures such as bandaging wounds and administering wound dressings.
- Assessing the mental state of the patient, including emotional status and level of consciousness.
- Administering medication both intravenously and orally to patients who have been admitted to the hospital.
- Communicating with doctors and patients to keep everyone updated on test results and treatment recommendations.
- Collaborating with laboratory personnel and reporting lab findings back to ER doctors.
- Assisting in the care of traumas, cardiac arrests, strokes, sexual assaults, and conscious sedation.
- Easing the minds of patients to stay calm and collected even in the cause of their treatment or care.
- Demonstrating sound decision-making skills in emergency scenarios based on patient conditions such as vital signs, patient presentation, and assessments.
- Providing RN care for all ER patients, as well as handling intubations, defibrillations, auto transfusions, Medlock insertions, splinting, and more.
- Administering blood products, medications, and vaccinations properly when necessary.
- Assisting in the care of traumas, cardiac arrests, strokes, sexual assaults, and conscious sedation.
- Conducting cardiopulmonary resuscitation, rescue breathing, or bag-valve-mask ventilation
- Educating patients, families, and caregivers about their disease and treatment plan.
- Responding to emergencies throughout the hospital.
- Stabilizing trauma patients, especially those requiring advanced medical therapies.
- Treating critical injuries, allergic reactions, and trauma situations.
- Working closely with the medical team and supervisors proffering made supply
- Performing EKG (electrocardiogram) readings on patients to keep track of their heart activity.
- Collecting blood, urine, or stool samples from patients at certain intervals during treatment.
- Assisting in surgeries, including needle biopsies, lumbar punctures, and minor surgeries such as closing wounds, draining abscesses, and debriding wounds.
- Providing preliminary care before the patient is transferred to the primary care unit.
- Educating patients and families on the right prescription or method of administering medication.
- Providing emotional support and care to both patients and their families.
- Educating oneself in one’s area of specialization or field of interest.
- Administering and documenting medications according to the hospital policy and ensuring the hospital’s regulations aren’t neglected.
- Recording changes in patient status and reports accordingly; documents doctor response for actions to be taken.
- Recording the care plan that encompasses the patient education component.
- Showing leadership with the emergency response team and ancillary personnel should the patient be admitted for further monitoring or stabilization
- Mentoring and engaging with clinical and support staff to advance the education, communication, and leadership of their department as individuals and as a whole.
- Providing direction and instruction to patients’ family members and advocates in a manner that is respectful of their dynamic and willing to learn.
- Performing the technical requirements of nursing care that fall within the scope of the nursing role at that facility.
- Exhibitingphysical, mental, and emotional health.
- keeping a stocked emergency medical kit readily available, such as in the trunk of your car.
- Staying calm at all times in high-stress and high-pressure situations.
- Collaborating with other health care professionals to provide quality cost-effective care to patients.
- Collaborating with the interdisciplinary health care team to optimize patient outcomes or total well-being.
- Determining the qualifications and competencies of the department or health service unit and health care personnel.
- Working autonomously and in collaboration with a variety of other disciplines to diagnose and manage the client’s health care issues.
- Planning to provide and evaluate educational programs for nursing staff, interdisciplinary health care team members, and community members.
- Managing critical patients including patients on ventilators, or receiving critical IV medications.
- Administering IV fluids and general medications Stabilize patients with respiratory distress.
- Managing basic life support needs and stabilizing patients until the attending physician is available.
- Administering first aid treatment and life support care to sick and injured persons or patients.
Qualifications
- Obtaining a high school diploma certificate.
- An associate’s or bachelor’s degree in nursing is required.
- Having the Basic Life Support certification.
- Being certified for the Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification(ACLS) within six months of hire.
- Having the current CPR certification.
- Being certified with a pass after an adequate background check and drug screening.
- Having an understanding of medical terms or terminology.
- Having (4) years experience minimum in nursing, preferably in an ER setting.
- Have an exemplary work history demonstrating a solid working knowledge of patient care and medication.
- Having a passion for continued learning and skill development and adaptability to changes.
- Being able to perform physically demanding tasks and work long shifts efficiently.
Essential Skills
- Communication skills: Communication is crucial if you are in this position in the medical field, even if you feel like it or not. Communication, as we know, can be done among patients, their families, and other medical professionals. When you need help, have a question, or need to communicate with health providers or practitioners and peers, be confident, bold, and clear always. Proper communication skills training has been shown to improve patient satisfaction and reduce the number of complaints from patients. Communication with the patient is essential in an emergency. Assuming your patient is conscious and able to communicate, they can be a vital source of information. You can assess all of their vital signs, but the patient is the only one who can tell you how they’re feeling. Arguing with your patients or coworkers causes unnecessary chaos during an emergency. Problem-solving and staying patient-focused is your team’s objective. However, be assertive in your communication. If you see something, say something…it could save lives.
- Teamwork skills: You as an ER nurse works with various people even your supervisors and medical teammates, so you must know how to connect with them. Ask for help if you’re unsure of what to do. Avoid insisting you can handle something if you can’t. Lean on your coworkers who have the knowledge, skills, and experience to help you make difficult decisions during stressful events. Since we all know no human is an island and with the evolution taking place currently in every industry, you can’t just stop learning, and what better way to learn than from the level of experience of others? Everyone that can work in a team and still ensure each individual in the team is productive is seen as valuable, and this is essential for an ER nurse. You as an ER nurse must be able to work effectively and collaborate with a variety of individuals and departments to determine the best course of treatment for every patient. Teamwork refers to the ability to work with other healthcare professionals to reach a shared goal. Providing medical care, support, and treatments typically requires a collective effort. Showing your excellent teamwork skills can position you as a good fit for a healthcare facility’s work culture even as an ER nurse. Having excellent teamwork skills also involves being reliable and exhibiting strong interpersonal skills.
- Time management skills:Every ER nurse must be able to manage their time effectively. Many duties in a hospital setting are time-sensitive and require quick responses because most of the cases are life-threatening and demand quick attention. Understanding how long tasks take and how to prioritize patient requests is a major part of a nurse’s day. Being able to discern critical issues and time consciously deal with them in other to prevent death, infection, or relapse is one thing every ER nurse must be able to do. Keeping track of your tasks and managing your time can be done easily with a digital or physical organizational system.
How to Become an ER Nurse.
- Obtaining a high school diploma certificate.
- Earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
- Earning an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN).
- Having at least (2) years of experience in an Er environment.
- Undergoing specialized training in a clinical area, such as respiratory therapy, critical care, obstetrics, or any related field you would want to specialize in.
Where to Work as an ER Nurse.
- Private and federal schools.
- Clinics
- Film Industry or agency.
- Colleges and Universities.
- Hospitals and health care facilities.
- Cruise ships and shipping management.
- Airport and flight agencies.
- Search and Rescue teams.
- Military and security agencies.
- Defense academy.
- Burn centers and displaced camps.
- Prison yards or control centers.
- Fire Services or agencies.
- Transport agencies.
- Poison control centers.
- Government agencies.
- Residential camps or educational institutions.
- Correctional facilities.
- Government or state EMS offices or boards of nursing.
- Research institutions.
- Hospital transport.
- Urgent care centers.
- Trauma units.
- Traditional emergency rooms.
- State and government houses.
ER Nurse Salary Scale
Emergency Room nurses’ average salary in the United States is $75,237. In the United Kingdom, the average salary of an ER nurse is £42,948 per year or £22.02 per hour. The entry-level positional ER nurses in the UK, start at £39,742 per year while most experienced workers make up to £80,145 per year. In Canada, the average emergency room average registered nurse’s gross salary is $90,602 with an entry-level emergency room registered nurse (1-3 years of experience) earning an average salary of $64,335 and on the other end, a senior-level emergency room registered nurse (8+ years of experience) earning an average salary of $112,173. In Australia, the average emergency nurse salary is $96,081 per year or $49.27 per hour, since entry-level positions start at $78,964 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $123,014 per year. In Ireland, the average emergency room registered nurse’s gross salary is €53,058 with an hourly rate of €26. With an entry-level emergency room registered nurse (1-3 years of experience) earning an average salary of €37,686, the senior-level emergency room registered nurse (8+ years of experience) earns an average salary of €65,708. In Germany, the average pay for a Nurse Emergency Room is €58,373 a year and the average salary range for an Emergency Room Nurse is between €40,744 and €71,040. In Nigeria, the average salary of an ER nurse is N 129,000 ranging from N 85,000 to N 161000.
N.B Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, compensation for additional workloads, or the number of years or experience you have spent in your profession.
