Registered Nurse - Special Care Units, ICU & CCU 7P-7A

Registered Nurse

The Registered Nurse is responsible for planning, implementing and evaluating the delivery of care for patients in the Special Care Units; correlating the nursing process with the medical plan of care and hospital policies. The Special Care Unit RN is responsible for coordinating unit function, assuring supply and equipment availability.

Job Requirements

Minimum Education

• Holds an active Registered Nurse license and is eligible to practice in the state of Kentucky.
• Current BLS certification.
• ACLS Certification to be completed by end of orientation period.

Minimum Work Experience

• Previous ICU/CTU/ER experience desirable.

Required Skills

• Must be able to follow directions and to perform work according to department standards when no directions are given.
• Must be emotionally mature and able to function effectively under stress.

Functional Demands

Physical Requirements

Sitting - 1-15%

Walking - greater than 32%

Standing - greater than 32%

Bending/Squatting - 16-31%

Climbing/Kneeling - 1-15%

Twisting - 1-15%

OSHA Category

High Potential for Direct Body Fluid Exposure

Visual and Hearing Requirements

Must be able to see with corrective eyewear.

Color vision ability required.

Must be able to hear clearly with assistance.

Other Physical/Environmental Demands

Lifting - 0-50lbs, 50lbs or more with assistance

Carrying - 0-50lbs, 50lbs or more with assistance

Pulling - up to 200lbs

Pushing - up to 200lbs

Leadership Capabilities

Mission, Service, and Values

Supports the hospital Mission, Service and Values.

Essential Functions

• Demonstrates knowledge, competency, and awareness of patient population served pediatric/adolescent/adult/geriatrics.
• Provides direct patient care and is proficient in the utilization of ventilators, intubation, extubating, infusion devices, code management, and emergency drugs.
• Administers medication, IV therapy and blood products accurately.
• Admits and discharges patients, establishes a base line for plan of care in the hospital and on discharge with appropriate teaching to patient/family.
• Uses and interprets monitors in a specialized area.
• Functions as a member of the Code Blue team as assigned.
• Records and carries out physician orders to maximize patient's care.
• Interacts with all hospital departments to coordinate patient care.
• Controls and accurately records the use of narcotics assigned to the department.
• Demonstrates proficiency in the management of patients with altered cardiopulmonary, neurological, endocrine, renal, hematological, gastrointestinal, circulatory or surgical compromise.
• Assists in planning, supervising, and instructing less experienced registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nursing assistants, and or students.
• Responds immediately and appropriately to inquiries, request and patient call lights.
• Coordinates the schedule of diagnostic tests and procedures eliminating the need for rescheduling and unnecessary delays.
• Collects and appropriately interprets subjective and/or objective data (i.e., routine VS, hemodynamic monitoring, EKG monitoring 12 lead EKG interpretation.
• Ensures availability of equipment (BG machines, defibrillator) and supplies to deliver care.
• When Staff Nurse Functions as Charge Nurse
• Assesses staffing environment and assigns personnel based on their qualifications and patient acuity levels.
• Makes mealtime assignments and other scheduling assignments based on assuring adequate coverage for continuing of patient care.
• Assigns duties, i.e. restocking crash carts, narcotic counts and assesses duties are completed by end of shift.
• Makes rounds on every patient at least once during each 12-hour shift and unstable patients more often.
• Observes and supervises the care of all patients.
• Assesses all emergency situations that may occur during the shift.
• Counsels and initiates corrective action for nursing employees as necessary and promptly informs the ICU/CCU Director.
• Monitors staff transferring from other units and/or staff who are not ACLS certified in order to provide necessary guidance.
• Conducts frequent nursing observation (Q1h or more frequent) of assigned patients.
• Assists co-workers with patient care and participates in observation of all patients in CCU.
• Knowledgeable in special test and procedures to assist physician and provides monitoring of patients before and after emergency defibrillation, cardioversion, insertion of pacemakers, insertion of swan ganz catheter, and insertion of chest tubes. Accurately interprets arrhythmia strips and request EKGs to clarify alterations in rhythm obtained in emergency situation.
• Demonstrates an ability to draw arterial blood gases from arterial lines, as requested.
• Communicates changes in patient's condition to family as needed and acts as a liaison between physician and family.
• Completes admission assessment (within 4 hours).
• Includes in assessment psychosocial, environmental, and physiological factors. Assesses and documents need for patient/family education.
• Documents patient/family teaching of (ex. anticoagulation therapy, cardiac rehab-steps, TCDB) in the nurses notes.
• Initiates a care plan individualized to the needs of each within 8 hours after admission implements same.
• Develops measurable goals that are mutually set with patient/family.
• Modifies nursing care plan as required by changing patient needs as determined by evaluation of care administered as established standards of care.
• Develops and documents discharge plan with physician, patient/family and other available resources.
• Accountable for carrying out nursing functions according to standards to nursing care, state and federal regulation and JC standards are outlined in current policies and procedures.
• Assesses patients for skin integrity on admission and continuously throughout the patient's hospitalization.
• Implements pressure ulcer prevention measures and treatments per skin and wound assessment protocol.

Non-Essential Functions

• Floats to other areas as assigned, responds to floating requests with a positive attitude.
• Participates in 75% of staff meetings as evidenced by attendance records.
• Satisfactorily completes competency and HealthStream assignments.
• Performs other duties as assigned with a positive attitude.