What Is an RN's Role in the ER?

The emergency room (ER) can be a very chaotic place. Doctors and nurses work tirelessly to save and heal all patients who come for emergency care. Registered nurses (RNs) are very important in the ER.

Prioritize Care

• People come to the emergency room for a variety of reasons, and some people̵7;s problems are more severe than others. An ER nurse is responsible for determining the order in which patients are treated based on the highest need.

Assistance

• ER nurses assist doctors in any way possible. Whatever the doctor says, the nurse must do as quickly as possible to ensure the patient̵7;s health. The nurse will also provide IV therapy, clean and bandage wounds, administer medications or injections and contact other staff members when necessary for other procedures.

Policies

• The ER nurse must know all hospital policies, procedures and protocols and be able to apply them in a timely manner.

Communication

• The ER nurse is responsible for communicating with a patient's family about the patient̵7;s progress and condition.

Documentation

• It is part of the emergency room nurse's job to document the patient̵7;s diagnosis and ongoing treatment plan.