Emergency Nurse

Department: Nursing
Reports to: Unit Manager
 
Job Summary
The focus of the Emergency Nurse is the delivery of quality competent nursing care. The emergency nurse acts as a clinical resource and leader because of advanced and broad knowledge and skills in a particular clinical specialty, performing functions at an advanced level of competence and consistence. Sound and contemporary knowledge of the area of the specialty, together with an advanced understanding of professional nursing, health care delivery and programme planning, Responsible for the delivery and co-ordination of competent nursing care during the shift for which the Emergency Nurse is responsible. Supports and supervises less experienced staff, and acts as a preceptor for new staff, and assists in the clinical teaching of learners. Contributes to the ongoing research, development, and review of best practice in the specialty. Provides leadership in the clinical situation and acts as an influential role model for best competent professional practice.
Key Responsibilities

TEAMWORK

• Inform doctor of any problems or patient needs and response to treatment, consult with doctor if any problems or queries occur regarding any prescribe treatment e.g., medication or wound care.
• Ensure all doctor’s telephonic orders are signed for within 24 hours.
• Assist doctor in all medical and/or interventional procedures as needed.
• Communicate all doctor’s orders or changes to fellow personnel and ensure all orders are followed and carried out as soon as possible.
• Educates patients in the nature of oral health related conditions and in the general promotion of oral health related disease prevention

NURSING CARE:

• Assess the health status of assigned patient(s) in the unit as indicated by the patients’ medical diagnosis and health needs within the best practice nursing standards.
• Assess the delivery of nursing care in the unit, identifies risk factors and apply measures for improvement.
• Assess the number and level of personnel needed to provide quality patient care in the unit and collaborates with the Unit Manager in adjusting staffing and assignments per shift/day.
• Able to complete a comprehensive assessment on each patient, including family members and/or significant others to assist in delivering nursing care by available health care workers.
• Collect the necessary data of each patient by interview, observation, inspection, auscultation, palpation, reports, and records.
• Organize assessment data to be accurate, complete, accessible and remain confidential.
• Communicate the assessment data in an orderly fashion by recording, updating, and communicating the data amongst the health team and revising if needed when appropriate.
• Carry out  the nursing care plan as planned by team members.
• Complete a written care plan for assigned patients in the unit. Plan the care of patients as well as direct and supervise others in the planning of patient care.
• Serve on appropriate hospital committees, if required, and help to review and revise policies and procedures as directed by management.
• Plan and develops self-objectives.
• Plan ways to identify risks, solve problems and contribute to improvements in the unit in collaboration with supervisory personnel.
• Participate in implementing planned changes and activities to improve nursing care and services.
• Be self-accountable for the delivery of quality nursing care.
• Promote harmonious relationships and favourable attitudes among the health care team.
• Support and adhere to administrative and nursing service policies and procedures.
• Act rapidly and effectively, manage self, patients, and other employees, during an emergency.
• Implement patient care that is:
• Specific to the patient’s problems and the desired outcomes.
• Based on scientific, current knowledge which are flexible and individualized for each patient. 
• Based on principles of keeping patient knowledgeable of health status, desired and total health care.
• Based on principles of psychosocial interactions.
• Based on environmental factors influencing the patient’s health including human, material, and community resources.
• Comply with appropriate infection control standards.
• Evaluate self-objectives, revises, and formulates new objectives.
• Evaluate effectiveness of problem-solving techniques and the activities implemented to improve problem solving.
• Contribute to the performance evaluation of nursing service personnel in the unit.
• Participate in evaluation of registered nurse orientation, policies and procedures and recommend revisions to the unit manager.
• Participate in the evaluation of in-service education programs.
• Evaluate achievement or lack of achievement of desired outcomes.

RECORD KEEPING

• Ensure all ward records are kept within acceptable standards, i.e., accurate and legible.
• Assist in planning of duty roster and staff allocation.
• Compile statistics as required.
• Complete the required number of document audits per month.

ADMINISTRATION

• Requisition, care and control or schedules substances, pharmaceuticals, equipment and emergency equipment and medicines as per policy and department protocol.
• Supervision of enrolled nurses and auxiliary nurses to ensure duties delegated to them are carried out.
• Reinforce scope of practice to all categories of personnel.
• Assist in ward stock control and ensure charging of all stock used by nursing staff.
• Keep patient records updated, legible.
• Participates in orientation of associates.
• Refer all complaints from patients and doctors to sister-in-charge of the unit.

STAFF SUPERVISION AND TRAINING

• Work with and supervise Registered Nurse, Enrolled Nursed, Hospitality Assistants, and health care workers to ensure best practice nursing standards are followed.
• Refer all complaints from patients and doctors to the unit head.
• Train staff in common procedures and basic life support.
• Team leader when it comes to resuscitation in the absence of the doctor

EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

• Record any surgical stock items used on billing sheets of patients.
• Prevent waste and assists in preventing theft.
• Know the correct use of equipment.
• Care for and cleans equipment according to prescribed procedures.
• Report equipment needing repair or replacement to sister-in-charge.

EMERGENCY AND DISASTER PLAN

• Attend training and practice to keep up to date with the hospital evacuation and disaster plan.

MEDICO-LEGAL AND SAFETY

• Always practice within own scope, skills, and level of training for care givers.
• Prevent risks as far as possible.
• Maintain a safe working environment in accordance with the Occupational and Safety Policy Guidelines for Healthcare Workers.
• Report unsafe conditions.

CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT

• Be constantly aware of work process problems or bottlenecks that prevent the achievement of goals, objectives, and targets.
• Take appropriate action through discussions with Unit Manager in improving any process that will allow the improvement to workflow, reduction of cost and/or improvement to quality, service, and productivity.
• Attend regular ward meetings and be part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Actively participate in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement activities.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS

• At least six months post completion of basic training.
• Practical experience as applicable to the nursing discipline.
• Ability to influence, motivate, develop, and lead a team to ensure quality and productive clinical and professional nursing care.
• Good verbal communication skills in English with colleagues, doctors, patients, relatives and understand instructions. Articulate, and a good listener.
• Able to maintain good liaison relationships with all other departments in the hospital.
• Able to act fairly, be reasonable and just in performing duties.
• Cost conscious – prevent waste (of time, equipment, and consumables)
• Participates in teaching and educating associates and domestic staff.
• Maintain safe and healthy environment for patients, co-workers, and other customers.
• Participate in stock control, by accurately charging all stock used on different patients during procedures, control of linen.
• Adhere to infection control policy and control and comply with standard precautions.
• Effectively meet customer needs, build productive customer relationships, and take responsibility for customer satisfaction and loyalty.  Maintain and monitor customer service. Be polite and act empathically to patient’s needs.
• Management of time and resources and ensure the work is completed efficiently and effectively.
• Accomplish tasks by considering all areas involved, no matter how small, show concern for all aspects of the job, accurately check processes and tasks within time frame.
• Set best practise standards for performance for self and others, assume responsibility and accountability for the successful completion of assignments or tasks, self-impose standards of excellence rather than having standards imposed.
• Able to apply critical nursing skills and judgement across a range of variable situations and able to anticipate problems and/or complications.
• Must demonstrate an advanced understanding of clinical governance and best practice processes and policies in the speciality.
• Must demonstrate an ability to contribute to and utilise research.
• Must demonstrate willingness to teach and actively participate in teaching and sharing knowledge and skills with colleagues.
• Knows medical terminology necessary to perform duties effectively.
• Able to exercise sound judgment and show initiative.
• Able to concentrate well, perform repetitive tasks, yet maintaining the set standards.
• Observant and pays attention to detail.
• Able to adapt easily, remain calm in stressful situations.
• Honest and reliable
• Maintain a good physical and mental health sufficient to meet the demands of the position.
• Able to perform all the necessary strenuous and physical duties.
• Be punctual.
• Maintain professional confidentiality.
• Assume responsibility responsible for own and delegated actions.
• Learning attitude. Attend training and development opportunities to ensure own career development.
• Flexibility to meet requirements of the workplace.
• Assertive and innovative.

EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION

• Diploma/Degree
• A post basic qualification around speciality, or evidence of competent experience in that field, together with contemporary skills and knowledge of the specific speciality.
• Registration with the Nursing and Midwife Council of Ghana.

KEY CONTACTS