Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Urgent Care Nurse

🎯 Role Definition

The Urgent Care Nurse provides high-quality, efficient clinical care in a fast-paced urgent care clinic setting. This role includes rapid and accurate triage, comprehensive patient assessment, clinician-assisted procedures (suturing, splinting, wound care), administration of medications and IV therapies under standing orders or provider direction, detailed EHR documentation (Epic/Cerner), and patient education for acute non-life-threatening conditions. The Urgent Care Nurse collaborates with physicians, nurse practitioners, medical assistants, and ancillary departments to ensure safe continuity of care, adherence to infection control and regulatory standards (HIPAA/OSHA), and excellent patient experience.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Emergency Department Nurse (ED RN) transitioning to urgent care practice.
Medical-Surgical RN or Primary Care RN seeking ambulatory care.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)/Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) upgrading to RN or transferring into urgent care.

Advancement To:

Charge Nurse / Clinic Lead — Urgent Care
Nurse Practitioner (NP) in Urgent Care or Emergency Medicine
Clinic Manager or Operations Manager — Ambulatory Care
Clinical Education Specialist or Quality Improvement Nurse

Lateral Moves:

Occupational Health Nurse
Telehealth/Telephone Triage Nurse
School or Community Health Nurse

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Conduct rapid triage and prioritize incoming patients using established triage protocols, documenting acuity, chief complaint, vital signs, and immediate interventions to ensure timely care in a high-volume urgent care clinic.
Perform comprehensive nursing assessments for adults, adolescents, and pediatrics including history taking, focused physical exams, pain assessment, and risk evaluation to assist providers in diagnosis and treatment planning.
Initiate and manage IV access and IV therapy (bolus and infusion) per clinic protocols, including medication preparation, infusion monitoring, and complication management (phlebitis, infiltration), ensuring patient safety and accurate medication administration.
Administer medications (oral, IM, subcutaneous, topical, and as authorized via standing orders) and provide patient education on dosing, side effects, and follow-up instructions, ensuring compliance with medication safety standards and documentation in the EHR.
Perform wound care including cleaning, irrigation, packing, debridement assistance, tissue assessment, topical therapy application, and documentation; independently suture, staple, and apply adhesive closures per competency and state scope when authorized.
Provide splinting and basic orthopedic care for minor fractures and sprains, including application of soft and rigid splints, instruction on mobility aids, and coordination of imaging and orthopedic follow-up.
Obtain and process point-of-care testing (POCT) such as rapid strep, influenza, COVID-19, blood glucose, and urinalysis; collect specimens for laboratory testing (phlebotomy, throat/nasal swabs, wound cultures) following chain-of-custody and infection control procedures.
Perform EKG acquisition and preliminary rhythm recognition to support provider assessment of chest pain, palpitations, and syncope; escalate abnormal findings per clinical protocols.
Triage, stabilize, and initiate emergency protocols for patients with acute deterioration while coordinating transfer to higher-acuity care (EMS/ED), including implementation of BLS/ACLS/PALS algorithms and accurate handoff documentation.
Document all patient interactions, procedures, test results, and clinical decisions thoroughly and timely in the electronic health record (Epic, Cerner, or similar), ensuring coding accuracy, completeness, and HIPAA-compliant recordkeeping.
Educate patients and families on diagnoses, home care instructions, medication regimens, wound care, red-flag symptoms, prevention strategies, and recommended follow-up (primary care, specialists, imaging), using teach-back and culturally competent communication.
Collaborate with providers to order diagnostic tests and imaging (x-ray, labs), track results, communicate findings to patients, and coordinate referrals or urgent follow-up appointments to ensure continuity of care.
Participate in utilization and prior authorization processes for medications and imaging when required, assisting with insurance queries and patient financial counseling in alignment with clinic policies.
Supervise, mentor, and delegate tasks to medical assistants and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) within scope of practice, providing clinical direction and ensuring quality of triage, vitals, specimen collection, and patient flow procedures.
Maintain inventory, restock clinical supplies, and manage equipment checks (defibrillators, oxygen, splinting materials), reporting defective items and ensuring clinic readiness for peak patient volumes and emergencies.
Monitor and ensure adherence to infection prevention policies, including isolation precautions, proper PPE use, sharps safety, and safe handling/disposal of biohazardous waste in accordance with OSHA and facility protocols.
Engage in quality improvement activities by collecting performance data (wait times, patient satisfaction, clinical outcomes), participating in chart audits, and implementing process improvements to enhance efficiency and care quality.
Support telehealth visits and telephone triage by conducting remote assessments, providing self-care instructions, determining need for in-person evaluation, and documenting virtual encounters per telemedicine guidelines.
Participate in staff education and competency assessments, including onboarding new nurses, conducting skills validations (suturing, splinting, IV placement), and attending required training (BLS/ACLS/PALS, infection control).
Communicate professionally and empathetically with patients experiencing acute illness or injury, de-escalating distressed patients, and coordinating social services or interpreter resources when needed to optimize patient experience and outcomes.
Ensure compliance with clinical protocols, state nurse practice acts, organizational policies, and regulatory requirements (CMS, HIPAA), reporting incidents, near misses, or safety concerns and participating in root cause analyses when applicable.
Provide vaccination and immunization services, including seasonal influenza, tetanus boosters, and other indicated vaccines, maintaining accurate immunization records and counseling patients on vaccine benefits and side effects.
Triage and coordinate behavioral health concerns presenting in urgent care by assessing risk, providing crisis interventions when indicated, and facilitating referrals to mental health resources or crisis teams.

Secondary Functions

Support clinic-level performance reporting by tracking key metrics (throughput, left-without-being-seen, patient satisfaction) and contributing ideas to improve clinic workflow and patient access.
Participate in community outreach and patient education events to promote urgent care services, injury prevention, and public health campaigns (vaccination clinics, school sports physicals).
Assist with development and review of standing orders, clinical protocols, and evidence-based guidelines to standardize care and reduce clinical variation.
Aid in onboarding and cross-training of staff across multiple clinic locations or shifts to maintain consistent practice standards and staffing flexibility.
Coordinate with supply chain and contracted service vendors to optimize inventory turnover, reduce waste (expired medications/supplies), and ensure cost-effective operations.
Participate in disaster response planning for the clinic (mass casualty triage protocols, surge staffing models) and attend emergency preparedness drills to maintain readiness.
Provide coverage for telephone triage lines, appointment scheduling support, and brief administrative duties during low patient volume or staff shortages.
Contribute to clinical research or pilot programs (telehealth optimization, POCT validation) by assisting with data collection, patient consent, and protocol adherence when applicable.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Rapid triage and acuity assessment skills for urgent care patient flow and prioritization.
Advanced wound care and procedural skills: suturing, stapling, wound irrigation, wound packing, and dressing application.
IV therapy competence including peripheral IV insertion, IV medication administration, and infusion monitoring.
Proficiency with point-of-care testing (rapid strep, influenza, COVID-19, fingerstick glucose) and specimen collection (phlebotomy, nasal/throat swabs, wound cultures).
EKG acquisition and basic rhythm interpretation to identify ischemic changes and arrhythmias.
Electronic Health Record (EHR) documentation expertise — Epic, Cerner, Athenahealth, or similar systems; strong understanding of clinical documentation and coding implications.
Medication administration knowledge including controlled substances handling, allergy checks, and medication reconciliation.
Basic radiology requisitioning and image view coordination; ability to recognize when imaging is indicated for fractures or foreign bodies.
Certification-ready skills: current BLS; ACLS and/or PALS preferred or required depending on clinic scope.
Familiarity with OSHA, HIPAA, infection control protocols, and safe sharps disposal practices.
Telehealth triage and virtual visit documentation experience.
Basic knowledge of insurance verification, prior authorization workflow, and outpatient billing basics.

Soft Skills

Excellent clinical judgment and fast, accurate decision-making under pressure.
Effective verbal and written communication with patients, families, and interdisciplinary teams.
Strong patient education and motivational interviewing skills; ability to explain complex care plans in plain language.
Empathy, cultural competence, and sensitivity to diverse populations and health literacy levels.
Time management and multitasking capability in a high-volume, high-turnover clinic environment.
Team leadership and mentoring ability to support MAs and junior nurses.
Adaptability and flexibility to cover variable shifts, on-call rotations, and surge staffing needs.
Attention to detail for documentation accuracy, medication safety, and regulatory compliance.
Conflict resolution and de-escalation skills for handling upset or anxious patients.
Continuous improvement mindset with active contribution to quality initiatives and process optimization.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Active Registered Nurse (RN) license in the practicing state (or compact RN licensure where applicable).
Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred for many employers and advancement opportunities.
Post-graduate certifications in urgent care, ambulatory care nursing, or wound care a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Nursing (ADN, BSN)
Emergency or Acute Care Nursing certificates
Public Health or Healthcare Administration (for leadership-track candidates)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–5 years of clinical nursing experience, with 1–3 years preferred in urgent care, emergency department, or ambulatory urgent/emergency settings.

Preferred:

Prior urgent care, emergency department, or fast-paced ambulatory clinic experience.
Demonstrated competency in procedures (suturing, splinting, IV insertion), EKGs, and POCT.
Current certifications: BLS required; ACLS and PALS preferred or based on patient population; wound care or phlebotomy certifications advantageous.
Strong EHR experience (Epic/Cerner/Athena) with documented proficiency in clinical documentation and order entry.