RN - Med-Surg./Inpatient - PRN NIGHTS - AVALA Hospital - RH457

Summary

Provides directand indirect patient care on the Med/Surg unit. Communicates with Physicians/NurseManager/co-workers, as appropriate about changes in patient's clinicalcondition, including results of diagnostic studies and symptomology. Able to respond quickly and accurately tochanges in condition or response to treatment. Able to perform general nursingduties in all departments with adequate supervision. Participates inperformance improvement and CQI activities. May also function in the role ofCharge Nurse under the supervision of the Director of Inpatient Services.Communicates on behalf of the patient (patient advocate); care providedreflects the mission, ethics and goals of the facility, as well as the focusstatement the department.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Monitors and supervises patient care, includingdiet and physical activities. Communicates appropriately and clearly todepartmental charge nurse or director, co-workers, and physicians.
• Prepare patients for and assists withexaminations or treatments or procedures to assist physicians.
• Performs a head-to-toe assessment on allpatients and reassessments as per policy. Able to interpret data about the patient's status in order to identifythe care needed.
• Adequately assess and reassess pain. Utilizes appropriate pain managementtechniques. Educates the patient andfamilies regarding pain management.
• Perform waived testing (point-of-care testing),draw blood for lab testing as needed, interpret results and take appropriateactions per Clinical Laboratory's and the patient care unit's policies andprocedures.
• Makes decisions reflecting knowledge of facts,knowledge of diseases/surgical conditions, care required and good judgment.Identifies physical symptoms and changes, reports changes to surgeon/ physician,and initiates appropriate actions.
• Knowledge of medications and IV fluids andtheir correct administration, based on age of the patient and the patient'sclinical condition. Administers medications safely using the five medicationrights and reduces the potential for medical errors.
• Knowledge in maintenance and care of central /PICC line.
• Knowledge of cardiac monitoring and canidentify dysrhythmias, notifies physician of changes, treat appropriately basedof facility protocol.
• Able to perform the techniques ofcardiopulmonary resuscitation accurately and effectively.
• Performs patient care in an environment thatoptimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health careerrors.
• Ability to formulate an individualized plan ofcare, modify patient treatment plans as indicated by patients' responses andconditions and evaluate overall plan daily for effectiveness. Involvespatient/family in plan of care.
• Keeps abreast of changing techniques in nursingand maintains a high level of expertise in patient care.
• Ability to be flexible, organized, and functionunder stressful situations.
• Assists in emergency nursing proceduresnecessary for prompt control of changes in patient's physical condition.
• Treats patients and their families with respectand dignity, maintains an environment that provides the patient and familyfeelings of safety and security, practices good guest relations.
• Maintains a good working relationship andeffective communication both within the department and with other departmentsfor the benefit of the patient. Consults other departments as appropriate toprovide for an interdisciplinary approach of meeting patient needs.
• Ensures completion of documentation, includingbut not limited to, H/P, consents, handoff communications tool, medicationadministration, pre-anesthetic questionnaire, medication reconciliation form,and allergies.
• Practices economical use of equipment andsupplies, informs proper authority of discrepancies.
• Provides education to staff on performanceimprovement. Ability to provide in-service training for unit staff members,participates in guidance and educational program.
• Demonstrates ability to perform treatments andprovide services to level of licensure.

Charge Nurse Responsibilities

• Updates Table for Inpatient Log Census.
• Completes Patient Classification Form to assureefficient staffing levels and patient assignments.
• Verifies that temperature logs completed.
• Oversee all staff on the Med Surg Unit.
• Follows protocol for admitting a patient andactivation of call team.
• Initiates emergency response protocol.
• Effectively communicates pertinent issues withMed/Surg Director.
• Supervises dietary after hours.
• Follows up on consults and outstanding orders.
• Follows protocol for patient transfers.
• In charge of room assignments, assists withadmits and discharges and ensures minimal delays in patient treatment.

Core Competencies

ActionOrientation - Targets and achieves results, overcomes obstacles, acceptsresponsibility, establishes standards and responsibilities, creates aresults-oriented environment, and follows through on actions.

Communications - Communicates well both verbally and in writing. Effectively conveys andshares information and ideas with others. Listens carefully and understandsvarious viewpoints. Presents ideas clearly and concisely and understandsrelevant detail in presented information.

Creativity/Innovation - Generates novel ideas and develops or improves existing and new systems thatchallenge the status quo, takes risks, and encourages innovation.

CriticalJudgment - Possesses the ability to define issues and focus on achievingworkable solutions. Consistently does the right thing by performing withreliability.

CustomerOrientation - Listens to customers, builds customer confidence, increasescustomer satisfaction, ensures commitments are met, sets appropriate customerexpectations, and responds to customer needs.

InterpersonalSkills - Effectively and productively engages with others and establishestrust, credibility, and confidence with others.

Leadership - Motivates, empowers, inspires, collaborates with, and encourages others.Builds consensus when appropriate. Focuses team members on common goals.

Teamwork - Knows when and how to attract, develop, reward, and utilize teams to optimizeresults. Acts to build trust, inspire enthusiasm, encourage others, and helpresolve conflicts and develop consensus in creating high-performance teams.

Professional Requirements

• Meets dress code standards; adheres to dresscode policy.
• Completes annual education requirements.
• Maintains regulatory requirements.
• Maintains patient confidentiality at all times.
• Reports to work on time and as scheduled,completes work within designated time.
• Wears identification while on duty, usescomputerized punch time system correctly.
• Completes in-services and returns in a timelyfashion.
• Attends annual review and departmentinservices, as scheduled.
• Attends monthly staff meetings.
• Represents the organization in a positive andprofessional manner.
• Actively participates in performanceimprovement and continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities.
• Complies with all organizational policiesregarding ethical business practices.
• Communicates the mission, ethics and goals ofthe hospital, as well as the focus statement of the department.
• Promotes professional growth of subordinates bysharing knowledge and/or directing them to sources if information appropriateto given situation. Utilizes journals, books, etc. to learn and/or improve newtechniques and equipment.
• Assists other staff members in performing anyduty that enhances the delivery of patient care.
• Critical Care experience preferred.

Advanced Orthopedic and SpineCertification Requirements

(CR.1c) As partof the Advanced Orthopedic and Spine Certification, at a minimum, the Programdirect-care staff, must have four (4) hours of education specific to theProgram scope, initially, and at least annually thereafter.

(CR.1e) As partof the Advanced Orthopedic and Spine Certification, staff possess adaptabilityto processes as related to up-to-date best practices, collaboration betweendepartments, compliance with protocols/processes, communication, cooperationand exceptional customer service.

Within 90 daysof hire or, if currently employed, within 90 days of signing the jobdescription, must adhere to:

• Orientation of Advanced Orthopedic and SpineCertification.
• In compliance with the Program educationrequirements.
• Completed department specific competencies.

Regulatory Requirements

• Graduate of accredited school of nursing
• Current state Registered Nurse Licensure,within state of practice
• Current BLS and ACLS certification
• PALScertification recommended

Skills

Ability to communicate effectively in English,both verbally and in writing.

Basiccomputer knowledge.

Physical Demands

The physicaldemands described here are representative of those that must be met by anemployee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Whileperforming the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talkand hear. This position is very active and requires repetitive motions, standing,walking, bending, kneeling and stooping all day. The employee must frequentlylift or move items weighing up to 50 pounds.