Emergency Department Registered Nurse Jobs in Kentucky
Emergency Department Registered Nurse jobs in Kentucky are concentrated in acute care hospital systems, trauma centers, and regional medical facilities, with steady demand at every level from new graduate to experienced charge nurse. Louisville, Lexington, and Bowling Green are the primary hiring metros, anchored by large systems such as Norton Healthcare, Baptist Health, and UK HealthCare. The most in-demand specialties include trauma nursing, pediatric emergency care, and critical care transition roles. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 4 of 39+ Emergency Department Registered Nurse jobs
Summary
Job Description:
Weekly Hours: 36
Shift: Mid Shift (1P-1A/3P-3A)
Status: Full Time
Job Summary
Registered nurse implements the nursing process for each assigned to his/her care regardless of age (i.e. infancy to geriatric) and is responsible for the patient’s care consistent with the Kentucky Nursing Laws and organizational policies and procedures. The registered nurse promotes positive patient outcomes and the delivery of quality patient care and initiates change through active involvement in the unit-based and hospital shared governance councils while contributing to a healthy professional practice environment.
National Professional Nursing Standards serve as guidelines for nurses as they utilize critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills and exercise appropriate nursing judgment. The registered nurse collaborates with the inter-professional team to enhance patient outcomes. The registered nurse serves as a role model through actively participating in the process of continuous professional development and lifelong learning. Utilizes the Nursing Process as the framework for providing care.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
The following is a summary of the major functions of this position. Registered nurses may perform other duties, not specified in this document and specific functions may change as professional practice and standards evolve.
1. Performs assessment/reassessment
2. Develops plan of care utilizing appropriate evidence based standards of care.
3. Provides care consistent with policies, procedures, current evidence based professional standards of practice and Baptist Health Louisville’s nursing mission, vision, values and model of care.
4. Evaluates patient response to treatment
5. Applies critical thinking, clinical reasoning, organizational and leadership skills.
Minimum Education, Training and Experience Required:
Active Kentucky RN License
ACLS and PALS
If you would like to be part of a growing family focused on supporting clinical excellence, teamwork and innovation, we urge you to apply now!
Baptist Health is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.
Summary
Job Description:
Weekly Hours: 36
Shift: Mid Shift (1P-1A/3P-3A)
Status: Full Time
Job Summary
Registered nurse implements the nursing process for each assigned to his/her care regardless of age (i.e. infancy to geriatric) and is responsible for the patient’s care consistent with the Kentucky Nursing Laws and organizational policies and procedures. The registered nurse promotes positive patient outcomes and the delivery of quality patient care and initiates change through active involvement in the unit-based and hospital shared governance councils while contributing to a healthy professional practice environment.
National Professional Nursing Standards serve as guidelines for nurses as they utilize critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills and exercise appropriate nursing judgment. The registered nurse collaborates with the inter-professional team to enhance patient outcomes. The registered nurse serves as a role model through actively participating in the process of continuous professional development and lifelong learning. Utilizes the Nursing Process as the framework for providing care.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
The following is a summary of the major functions of this position. Registered nurses may perform other duties, not specified in this document and specific functions may change as professional practice and standards evolve.
1. Performs assessment/reassessment
2. Develops plan of care utilizing appropriate evidence based standards of care.
3. Provides care consistent with policies, procedures, current evidence based professional standards of practice and Baptist Health Louisville’s nursing mission, vision, values and model of care.
4. Evaluates patient response to treatment
5. Applies critical thinking, clinical reasoning, organizational and leadership skills.
Minimum Education, Training and Experience Required:
Active Kentucky RN License
ACLS and PALS
If you would like to be part of a growing family focused on supporting clinical excellence, teamwork and innovation, we urge you to apply now!
Baptist Health is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.
See All 39 Emergency Department Registered Nurse Jobs in Kentucky
Find roles in Kentucky that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsEmergency Department Registered Nurse Jobs by City in Kentucky
Where Kentucky roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Emergency Department Registered Nurse Job Market in Kentucky
A snapshot from current Kentucky openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Baptist Health System KY & IN14
- St. Elizabeth Healthcare4
- HealthTrust Workforce Solutions3
- Owensboro Health2
- Optum1
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Kentucky Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in emergency department registered nurse jobs across Kentucky.
- Active registered nurse license issued or recognized by the Kentucky Board of Nursing
- Current Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support certification required
- Minimum one to two years of acute care or emergency department clinical experience preferred
- Proficiency with electronic health record systems such as Epic or Cerner
- Trauma Nursing Core Course or Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course certification strongly preferred
- Strong triage assessment skills and ability to manage high-acuity patient volumes
Emergency Department Registered Nurse Jobs in Kentucky: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a emergency department registered nurse in Kentucky?
You become an emergency department registered nurse in Kentucky by completing an accredited nursing program, passing the NCLEX-RN exam, and obtaining licensure through the Kentucky Board of Nursing. Kentucky participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so nurses licensed in other compact states may practice without a separate Kentucky license. Most emergency departments also expect candidates to hold current BLS and ACLS certifications before their start date.
How much do emergency department registered nurses make in Kentucky?
Emergency department registered nurses in Kentucky earn a median of about $81,040 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $64,170 for the lowest 10% to over $111,750 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire emergency department registered nurses in Kentucky?
Companies currently hiring emergency department registered nurses in Kentucky include Baptist Health System KY & IN, St. Elizabeth Healthcare, and HealthTrust Workforce Solutions, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Norton Healthcare, Baptist Health, and UK HealthCare are among the most consistently active Kentucky systems with dedicated emergency department staffing needs across multiple campuses.
Which Kentucky cities have the most emergency department registered nurse jobs?
Louisville, Owensboro, and Florence are the Kentucky cities with the most emergency department registered nurse openings. Louisville drives the largest share of postings given its concentration of major hospital systems and Level I trauma centers, while Lexington's academic medical presence through UK HealthCare sustains steady volume, and Bowling Green's regional growth has expanded hiring at The Medical Center at Bowling Green and nearby facilities.
Are there remote emergency department registered nurse jobs in Kentucky?
Yes, but they are rare. Emergency department nursing is an inherently hands-on, bedside role, and the large majority of Kentucky openings require on-site work in a hospital or urgent care setting. About 0% of emergency department registered nurse openings tied to Kentucky are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those positions tend to be in telephone triage, case management, or utilization review functions rather than direct patient care.
How can I get hired as a emergency department registered nurse in Kentucky with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying to a new graduate nurse residency program, which large Kentucky employers such as Norton Healthcare, Baptist Health, and UK HealthCare offer specifically to build emergency department readiness. These structured programs provide supervised clinical hours in the ED setting before independent practice. Candidates strengthen their standing by completing TNCC or ENPC coursework, holding current ACLS certification, and considering a short-term role in a step-down or medical-surgical unit to build acuity experience first.
Where can I find and apply to emergency department registered nurse jobs in Kentucky?
You can find and apply to emergency department registered nurse jobs in Kentucky on Migrate Mate, which lists current Kentucky openings updated regularly. Search the listings to identify roles that match your experience level, specialty background, and preferred metro, then apply directly to the positions that fit.
See All 39 Emergency Department Registered Nurse Jobs in Kentucky
Find roles in Kentucky that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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