Casualty Staff Nurse

SPECIFIC JOB RESPONSIBILITIES OF STAFF NURSE - CASUALTY AS FOLLOWS:

• To ensure that wearing uniforms supplied from the hospital
• Staff nurses posted in any department (ward, ICU, NICU,CASUALTY, OT, etc.) are responsible to the sister in-charge of that department for all administrative and clinical work.
• As far as clinical work is concerned, they are also responsible to the Resident Doctors on duty and to specialists.
• Any other duty, administrative or clinical, assigned by his/her senior related to nursing.

Administrative Duties:

• Handing over and taking over charge on change of duty staff.
• Cleanliness of Department, annexes, furniture, linen, equipment and stores.
• Preparation of dressings, bandaging and splints and items required for dealing with emergencies.
• Keeping an inventory of all items under their charge.
• Ensure the serviceability of all equipment and stores on charge and accounting for them. 
• Safe custody and accounting of dangerous and controlled drugs.
• Replenishment of expandable stores and obtaining replacement of unserviceable non-expandable items, in accordance with standing orders.
• Exchanging of clean linen and patients’ clothing for soiled ones.
• Disinfecting the Department, when required.
• Safe custody and maintenance of medical records of patients.
• Control of visitors and public relation.

Clinical Duties and Responsibilities:

• Admission and discharge of Day care patients.
• Preparation of patient’s file
• Assistance and instructions to patients and their relatives and imparting health education to patients/ relatives.
• Serving and removing hot water bottles, urinals and bedpans.
• Administration of medicines and/or injections as ordered and recording the same in the case sheet.
• Assisting doctor in carrying out certain procedures whenever required.
• Assisting and actually carrying out technical procedures like sterilization, preparation of injection, indenting of medicines, giving enema, oxygen therapy etc.
• Collecting samples for investigations whenever required. Getting all tests done, which the treatment doctor orders.
• Taking and recording of vital signs like pulse, BP, temperature and respiration.
• Pre-and post-operative care of the patients.
• Escorting patients to and from the department/ OT, either herself or with the help of ward boy.
• Supervision of housekeeping staff.  

The responsibilities of  Staff Nurse - Casualty  include the following:

• Check inventory of all equipment, crash cart and instruments as per the inventory register and inform the senior nurse /head nurse in case of any discrepancies noted.
• Check the communication book for any new instructions during every shift.
• Check the census of the department.
• Enquire and know about the following:
• Admissions in casualty.
• Transfer from casualty.
• List of investigation done.
• Discharges from casualty.
• Take over of all patients as per the guidelines mentioned in the handing over and taking over protocol.
• Receive patients in the casualty, assess the patient & provide the necessary treatment.
• Document the initial assessment findings in the progress notes.
• Monitor vital signs routine / as per the orders and document it.
• Ensure replacement of medicines, if not endorse to the next shift.
• Post all IP issues and bedside procedures.
• Complete all relevant documents.
• Check the patient’s records for any changes, special orders etc.
• Endorse the patients to the next shift staff.
• Inform any special events during the shift to the Nursing Superintendent.
• Prepare a brief report on the progress of the patient report to the Nursing Superintendent.
• Ensure that all admissions, transfers and discharges are entered in the admission discharge register.
• Prepare the patients for surgeries / procedures.
• Additional Responsibilities during Night Shift
• Prepare the dressing trolley, trays to be sent to the CSSD. Trays should be washed and dried thoroughly. Articles should be cleaned and replaced.
• In case of Emergencies.
• Ensure that the consent for surgery / procedure is obtained and the necessary preparations for the surgery / procedure has been done.
• Keep the folders ready for surgeries.
• Ensure all the procedures performed throughout the day are entered in the bedside procedures.
• Check the expiry dates of the medicines and send the medicines nearing expiry to the pharmacy.
• Comprehend verbal instructions given by the supervisor or head of the department.
• Work accurately and with minimal supervision.
• Comprehend written instructions given by the Doctors and the other related departmental personnel.
• Plan & organize ones work schedule effectively.
• Understand and carry out the instructions given by the supervisors and other related departmental personnel.
• To be very quick and prompt in handling patients and providing care.
• To Manage patient who come in collapsed stage (eg. Code Blue, Trauma, RTA).