Why the ED Boarder RN Role?

This unique position supports admitted patients who remain in the Emergency Department while awaiting an inpatient bed assignment. These patients have been evaluated and admitted by the appropriate inpatient service and require continued acute care nursing management until transfer to their assigned unit.

This role does not provide care for active Emergency Department patients. Instead, the Boarder RN focuses exclusively on acute care (non-ICU) level admitted patients boarding in the ED, ensuring continuity of care, safety, and patient experience during this transition period.

What Makes This Role Unique?

• Continuity of Care: Provides inpatient-focused nursing care to admitted patients while awaiting room placement on an acute care unit.
• Patient Advocacy: Ensures appropriate monitoring, medication administration, documentation, and communication with admitting services, consults, dietary, etc.
• Reduced ED Throughput Pressure: Does not carry an active ED assignment, allowing focused, high-quality care for boarding patients.
• Collaborative Practice: Works closely with ED physicians, hospitalists, specialists, case management, inpatient nursing teams, ancillary areas, and consultants.
• Flexible Skill Utilization: When ED census is low, RNs will float to other acute care inpatient units within the hospital to support staffing needs (no floating outside of the hospital).

Scope of Responsibilities

The ED Boarder RN will:

• Provide comprehensive nursing care to admitted patients awaiting inpatient bed placement.
• Perform assessments, medication administration, monitoring, and documentation per inpatient standards of care.
• Coordinate care with admitting providers and interdisciplinary teams.
• Facilitate safe and efficient patient handoff to receiving inpatient units.
• Maintain compliance with hospital policies, regulatory standards, and evidence-based practice.
• Float to acute care inpatient units as needed when ED boarding volume is low.

Patient populations may include, but are not limited to:

• Trauma - Ortho patients
• Medical-surgical conditions
• Cardiac monitoring patients
• Neurological conditions
• Post-procedural patients
• Patients requiring ongoing IV therapy, monitoring, and care management

This role supports Baylor Scott & White?s mission by promoting patient safety, throughput efficiency, quality outcomes, and an exceptional patient experience during a critical transition of care.

Requirements of the Ideal Candidate

• Graduate of an accredited RN School of Nursing
• ADN required; BSN preferred
• Licensed to practice professional nursing by the Texas Board of Nursing
• Minimum 2 years of RN experience preferred (Acute Care or Hospital experience preferred)
• Basic Life Support (BLS) required
• Ability to adapt to dynamic care environments and collaborate across departments

Qualifications - External

Qualifications

• Grad of an Accredited Program
• Specialized field of study should be nursing.
• RN license.
• Must have BLS certification or get it within 30 days of starting in this role.

Qualifications

• Grad of an Accredited Program
• Specialized field of study should be nursing.
• RN license.
• Must have BLS certification or get it within 30 days of starting in this role.

About Baylor Scott & White Health

Baylor Scott & White Health (BSWH) is the largest not-for-profit health care system in Texas and one of the largest in the United States. With a commitment to and a track record of innovation, collaboration, integrity and compassion for the patient, BSWH stands to be one of the nation’s exemplary health care organizations. Our mission is to serve all people by providing personalized health and wellness through exemplary care, education and research as a Christian ministry of healing. Joining our team is not just accepting a job, it’s accepting a calling!

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