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 people’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 patient’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 patient’s progress and condition.

Documentation

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