Bridging the post covid experience gap: Implementing an ED STAT RN role to improve quality and support novice nurses

Title : Bridging the post covid experience gap: Implementing an ED STAT RN role to improve quality and support novice nurses

Abstract:

Background: Emergency Departments (EDs) are high-acuity environments that rely on experienced registered nurses capable of rapid critical thinking. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, “Approximately 100,000 registered nurses (RNs) left the workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic in the past two years due to stress, burnout and retirements” (https://www.ncsbn.org/)creating a significant expertise gap. This was evident in our ED, where we observed a substantial influx of nurses with less than one year of experience, including many newly licensed nurses. 
Aim: To strengthen support for inexperienced ED nurses and improve quality metrics and patient outcomes. 
Intervention: In response, we developed the ED STAT RN role modeled after the hospital’s existing STAT RN program but tailored to the unique demands of emergency nursing. The stat nurse role essentially turns one experienced nurse into a flexible safety net for the entire facility,(https://scienceinsights.org/). ICU-based STAT RNs lacked the specialized competencies required in the ED, prompting the creation of an ED-specific role. Using Benner’s Model of Nursing Practice, we identified ED nurses functioning at the proficient–expert level and developed a structured training program that included didactic education, hands-on skills validation, and demonstration of emergency equipment use and location. ED STAT RNs serve as peer educators and clinical resources during high-acuity situations, providing real-time support to novice staff. 
Results: Six months after implementation, improvements were observed in stroke, sepsis, cardiac, and respiratory emergency metrics, along with reductions in patient falls. Nurse engagement and satisfaction increased, and newer nurses demonstrated accelerated development of essential clinical skills. 
Conclusion: The ED STAT RN program effectively addresses the post-COVID experience gap by leveraging expert nurses as on-unit clinical resources, resulting in improved patient care quality and enhanced support for novice ED nurses.

Biography:

Beth Waters is the Nursing Director for the Emergency Department at a community hospital within the city of Boston Massachusetts. She has over 40 years of experience in nursing with the majority of that time in the Emergency Department. Her goal is to work collaboratively with teams to achieve positive patient outcomes and to give her staff the tools needed to be successful. Her roles include staff nurse, Professional Development Manager, Educator, as well as her current role, Nurse Director.