Description
Provide rapid triage, assessment, and evidence-based emergency nursing care to patients with acute illness or injury in a fast-paced Emergency Department. Implement and evaluate care plans, coordinate resuscitation and stabilization with the interprofessional team, administer medications and therapies, and maintain accurate medical records. Educate patients and families, ensure regulatory compliance and patient safety, and maintain current nursing licensure (BLS/ACLS required; PALS/TNCC preferred).
- • Perform rapid triage to prioritize patients based on acuity.
- • Conduct focused assessments; monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes.
- • Record chief complaint, history, medications, allergies, and vital signs.
- • Initiate and update emergency nursing care plans based on patient response.
- • Establish IV access and obtain specimens for laboratory testing.
- • Administer medications, IV fluids, and blood products per orders and protocols; monitor for reactions or side effects.
- • Perform point-of-care tests per protocol and promptly report results.
- • Obtain 12-lead ECGs and provide continuous cardiac monitoring; recognize dysrhythmias.
- • Assist with airway management, oxygen therapy, suctioning, and ventilator support.
- • Assist with trauma resuscitations and medical codes; perform BLS/ACLS/PALS interventions.
- • Prepare patients for and assist with ED procedures (e.g., suturing, splinting, I&D) and procedural sedation per policy.
- • Provide wound care, bleeding control, and immobilization or splinting as indicated.
- • Implement isolation and infection prevention practices; support ED infection control efforts.
- • Consult and coordinate with physicians, advanced practice providers, and the care team to plan and evaluate care.
- • Supervise and delegate tasks to LPNs, techs, and ancillary staff; may serve as charge nurse.
- • Educate patients and families on diagnoses, treatments, medications, and discharge instructions.
- • Document assessments, interventions, responses, and communications accurately in the EHR; complete required consents and forms.
- • Prepare and maintain treatment rooms, equipment, and emergency supplies; perform routine equipment checks.
- • Participate in disaster preparedness, mass-casualty triage, and surge responses.
- • Facilitate safe patient transport within the hospital and provide thorough handoffs to receiving units or EMS.
- • Coordinate with case management and community resources to support safe discharge and follow-up.
- • Adhere to EMTALA, HIPAA, and departmental policies while maintaining patient safety.
- • Participate in quality improvement, incident reporting, and evidence-based practice initiatives.
- • Precept new staff or students and maintain required competencies and certifications.
- • Recognize and report suspected abuse, neglect, or public health concerns to appropriate authorities.
Related specializations
Interview options
Interview options
Interviewee gender
Interviewee accent
Interview time
Related Pathways
Healthcare & Human Services
View
Source
Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
Learn more
Sources & Standards:
This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
