Melanie Caughman promoted to director of emergency services at Lakeside Hospital for women and children

Tulane Health System has named Melanie Caughman, RN, its director of emergency services at Lakeside Hospital for Women and Children. As director of emergency services, Caughman will have responsibility for the overall management and operations of the emergency department at the Metairie hospital.

Caughman began her career as a staff nurse on the night shift at Tulane Lakeside in 2010, where she was a charge nurse and preceptor. She advanced in leadership roles and has served as manager of emergency services at Tulane Lakeside since October of 2013.

In her time in the emergency department at Tulane Lakeside, Caughman established and grew the SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) program in collaboration with the Jefferson Parish coroner’s office. She was also an instrumental member of the leadership team that transitioned the pediatrics service line to the Tulane Lakeside campus in 2014.

“The emergency department at Lakeside Hospital for Women and Children scores very high when it comes to patient satisfaction,” said Francis Maness, Tulane Health System’s assistant chief operating officer.  “Melanie’s experience and enthusiasm will further elevate the high-quality care and service we provide there.”

Caughman earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and pre-medicine from Xavier University of New Orleans. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the LSU Health Sciences Center School of Nursing. She holds several clinical certifications, including the Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course.

The Tulane Lakeside pediatric ER’s average wait times are lower than the national average, and it is staffed with board certified pediatric emergency physicians and pediatric emergency certified nurses. Learn more at Tulane Lakeside.