Purpose of the Emergency Department and the Role of the ER Nurse

What the department is for, where the nurse sits in it, and an honest word about the first year.

Purpose of the Emergency Department and the Role of the ER Nurse

The primary purpose of the Emergency Department is to identify, prioritize, and treat life-threatening conditions. Based on a patient's symptoms and presentation, providers (doctors, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners) create a list of possible causes — known as the differential diagnosis — which guides the workup and treatment plan. Emergency nurses are often the first point of contact when a patient arrives. One of our key responsibilities is performing triage, where we assign an acuity level that helps determine how quickly the patient is seen. Because of this, strong assessment skills are essential — we must be able to quickly recognize signs of critical illness or injury. Beyond triage, nurses carry out many vital tasks: drawing labs, placing IVs, transporting patients for imaging, administering medications, performing interventions, monitoring patients closely, advocating for them, and communicating efficiently with providers. We also serve as the final safety check — ensuring treatments make sense and are appropriate — always with the patient's best interest in mind.

Important

With all of this in mind, being a New ER Nurse is challenging. In the beginning, you will feel highly unprepared, always feeling behind. As some say, the ER is trial by fire. Priorities are constantly shifting as a New and More Critical/Sick patient can come in at any time and you must shift your attention in order to keep them alive. Your only job when you are new, so that you last in Emergency Nursing, is to remember to be kind to yourself. Don't expect to be a professional. Don't put unrealistic expectations on yourself. Take it day by day, learn little by little and build a solid foundation. For most ER nurses, it takes 1-2 years for the anxiety to wind down and to finally start feeling confident. Again, be kind to yourself. It is the only way to thrive for the long term in Emergency Nursing.

Updated 12 Sep 2026