Description
Provide rapid assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of acute and emergent illnesses and injuries in emergency departments, working independently and with physicians and the care team. Order, perform, and interpret urgent diagnostics; initiate stabilization; perform emergency procedures; and prescribe medications. Coordinate consultations, admissions, transfers, and safe discharges. Must be registered nurses with advanced graduate education and emergency-focused training.
- • Perform rapid triage and focused emergency assessments to determine acuity and priorities.
- • Analyze histories, symptoms, physical findings, and diagnostic data to develop emergent differentials and diagnoses.
- • Order, perform, and interpret urgent diagnostic tests, including CBCs, chemistries, cardiac enzymes, EKGs, radiographs, CT scans, and point-of-care ultrasound.
- • Initiate stabilization for life-threatening conditions, such as airway compromise, shock, myocardial infarction, stroke, sepsis, and anaphylaxis.
- • Diagnose and treat acute illnesses and injuries, including lacerations, fractures, asthma exacerbations, infections, and abdominal or chest pain syndromes.
- • Manage acute exacerbations of chronic conditions, such as COPD, heart failure, and diabetes, in the emergency setting.
- • Perform emergency procedures, such as laceration repair, incision and drainage, splinting, joint reduction, wound debridement, foreign body removal, and nail procedures.
- • Establish vascular access and administer IV fluids, blood products, and medications as indicated.
- • Provide airway management, including bag-valve-mask ventilation and endotracheal intubation, per credentialing and protocols.
- • Prescribe medications, including analgesics, antibiotics, and controlled substances, based on efficacy, safety, and cost as legally authorized.
- • Determine patient disposition; arrange admissions, transfers, or safe discharge with clear return precautions.
- • Consult with and refer to specialists when conditions exceed scope or require advanced care.
- • Interpret and respond to abnormal vital signs, telemetry, and cardiorespiratory monitoring data.
- • Detect and manage adverse drug reactions and medication interactions, with attention to pediatric, geriatric, pregnant, and other high-risk patients.
- • Develop evidence-based treatment and stabilization plans aligned with ACLS, PALS, trauma, and sepsis guidelines.
- • Provide patient and caregiver education on diagnosis, medications, wound care, and post-ED self-management and follow-up.
- • Recommend diagnostic or therapeutic interventions considering safety, radiation exposure, invasiveness, cost, and timeliness.
- • Administer immunizations and prophylaxis (e.g., tetanus, rabies, post-exposure prophylaxis) when indicated.
- • Coordinate with EMS, hospitalists, and inpatient teams to ensure smooth transitions of care.
- • Document complete, timely, and legally compliant medical screening exams, treatments, and dispositions in the EHR.
- • Arrange follow-up appointments or community resources, including primary care, specialty clinics, and social services.
- • Maintain readiness for disaster response and mass-casualty incident protocols.
- • Adhere to departmental policies for safety, infection control, and controlled substance management.
- • Keep current with emergency medicine literature, protocols, and continuing education.
- • Understand and apply regulatory requirements, such as EMTALA, payer authorization, and state NP practice laws.
- • Supervise or coordinate the activities of nurses, technicians, scribes, or students during patient care.
- • Advocate for equitable access to emergency care and address social determinants impacting safe discharge.
- • Recommend interventions to reduce health risks, including injury prevention, substance use harm reduction, and violence prevention.
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026
