The unpredictability of the emergency department makes it consistently busy with new patients and trauma situations.
The department is broken up into 5 “pods,” each containing around 10 rooms; nurses attend to 4 or 5 rooms, while physicians check in on all the rooms in their designated pod. One pod can see up to 260 patients each day.
Furthermore, specially equipped rooms are prepared for emergency operations, births, triage, and contagious elements.
This creates an organized atmosphere where independence, support, and accountability are essential characteristics of each employee.
A registered nurse helps manage the patient flow by establishing the history of the patient and the reason they came in, administering fluids, reviewing completed labs and briefing the doctor. They also must keep track of the patient’s progression and their needs.
Registered nurses can recommend the use of social workers if necessary. Nurses also must be flexible and be ready for any trauma case that might demand their attention.
Registered nurses interact primarily with patients, their family, unit clerks, other nurses, and the overseeing physician. However, they also communicate regularly with the imaging department, the phlebotomy lab, medics, and admissions.
Must graduate from Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
Also, current licensure to practice nursing as a Registered Nurse in the State of Oregon is required. Required certifications include ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support), TNCC (Trauma Nurse Core Classes), PALS or ENPC (Pediatric Advanced Life Support or Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course), and NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program) certification.
(National average in May 2008): $63,800