Nurses in the emergency department
Who they are, what they do and which devices they use: a research-based profile for recruiting this target group for MedTech and pharma projects.
Overview
Nurses in the emergency department assess the treatment urgency of emergency patients in a structured way using validated instruments and derive a symptom-oriented approach from it. They monitor and assess vital functions as well as invasive lines and drains and take part in the initial care of critically ill and injured people. Their remit includes trauma room management from preparation to evaluation, support of invasive and non-invasive ventilation and nursing support during anaesthesia and sedation. They work with medical technology devices, ensure hygiene and infection prevention and de-escalate in situations of danger to self or others. In major incidents they take on tasks in resource management.
Profession by country
Fields of use and typical tasks
Notaufnahme
Evidence from: DE, AT, CH
- Carry out the initial assessment of all patients using a five-level triage system in which the nurse is trained
- Measure blood pressure, pulse, oxygen saturation and temperature and record an ECG when needed
- Assign patients to one of five treatment categories that determine the order of treatment
- Recognise critical changes early in the resuscitation room and stabilise critically ill patients
- Initiate diagnostic and therapeutic processes in the resuscitation room and coordinate interprofessional workflows
- Initial assessment using a five-level system, with treatment by urgency rather than arrival time
Specializations
Devices and systems they use
- Intensive care ventilator
- Patient monitor
- Electronic health record (EHR)
- Ventricular assist device (VAD)
- Digital contact thermometer
- Upper-arm blood pressure monitor
- Peripheral IV cannula
- Fingertip pulse oximeter
- Resting 12-lead ECG machine
- Telemetry monitoring system
- Chest drainage system
- Central monitoring station
Who they work with
- Emergency medical services
- Emergency department physicians
- Anaesthesiology physicians
- Nursing teams of the wards and the intensive care unit
- Radiology and laboratory staff
- Social services
- Chaplaincy
- Police
Frequently asked questions
Who assesses on arrival how urgently someone needs treatment?
Emergency department nurses carry out the structured assessment of treatment urgency using validated instruments, according to the described job profile in delegation from or together with the medical service.
Which devices do they use?
The training names monitoring of vital functions and invasive lines and drains, support of invasive and non-invasive ventilation and handling of medical technology devices. The sources do not name specific device types.
How predictable is the workload?
According to the job profile, the workload is hard to predict and variable, with frequent stressful situations and increasing aggression towards nurses.
Do they also work in the trauma room?
Yes, trauma room management from preparation through execution to evaluation is part of the specialist training in emergency nursing.
Whom do they coordinate with?
With emergency medical services, the medical service, wards and the intensive care unit, anaesthesia, radiology and laboratory, as well as social services, chaplaincy and the police when needed.
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Related target groups
Same work area
Same specialty
Sources
- Modulhandbuch Pflegefachperson für Notfallpflege, Die Senatorin für Gesundheit, Frauen und Verbraucherschutz, Freie Hansestadt Bremen (DE)
- Berufsbild Expert:in Notfallpflege NDS HF, Kantonsspital Aarau (Berufsbild der Entwicklungskommission RLP NDS HF AIN) (CH)
- Regelungen zu einem gestuften System von Notfallstrukturen in Krankenhäusern, Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss (DE)
- Zentrale Notaufnahme: Informationsbroschüre für Patient:innen, Sana Klinikum Hameln-Pyrmont (DE)
- Die Rolle der Notfallpflege im nicht-traumatologischen Schockraum, Deutscher Pflegerat (Beitrag aus dem Integrierten Notfallzentrum des Städtischen Klinikums Karlsruhe) (DE)
- Notaufnahme (ZAE), Oberösterreichische Gesundheitsholding, Pyhrn-Eisenwurzen Klinikum Steyr (AT)
- Notfallpflege in Österreich (Vortragsfolien), LKH-Univ. Klinikum Graz, Steiermärkische Krankenanstaltengesellschaft (AT)
- «Tschuldigung, wie lang goht’s no?» Blick hinter die Kulissen der Notfallstation, Spital Thurgau AG, Kantonsspital Frauenfeld (CH)
- Weiterbildungskonzept Notfallzentrum, Luzerner Kantonsspital (CH)
- Adult Emergency Departments, Unit Scope, UF Health Shands Hospital, Nursing Careers (US)
- Adult Emergency Department (ED), 1st Floor VUH, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt Nursing (US)