Senior Registered Nurse - Gastroenterology Lab

Registered Nurse

Location: Main Hospital Bldg - 2nd Floor DAY SHIFT Work Hours: 10hr shift 4 days a week (6:45am-4:15pm) Employment Type: Full Time

Primary Purpose: The RN is a licensed professional who uses the Parkland nursing professional practice model to coordinate patient care delivery, that focuses on a particular patient population(s)/specific health conditions, by the health care team. Using the nursing process, the RN assesses the patient, identifies nursing diagnoses based on responses to health problems, develops and implements an individualized plan of care, and evaluates the patient's response. The RN utilizes knowledge of patient needs and the healthcare environment to assist patients to transition through the healthcare encounter without any preventable complications or delays. The RN delegates interventions to health care personnel based on the Texas Nursing Practice Act, each patient's condition and the competencies of the employee.

Minimum Specifications:

• Must be a graduate from an accredited school of nursing.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing preferred.

Experience:

• Must have two years of nursing experience.

Certification/Registration/Licensure:

• Must have current, valid RN license or temporary RN license from the Texas Board of Nursing, or valid Compact RN license.
• Must have current healthcare provider BLS for Healthcare Providers certification from one of the following: American Heart Association, American Red Cross, Military Training Network.
• Must have current Advanced Life Support (ALS) or Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification on hire or placement in role. Certification must be from one of the following: American Heart Association, American Red Cross, Military Training Network.

Required Tests for Placement Skills or Special Abilities:

• Provides care for assigned patient population in accordance with the current State of Texas Nurse Practice Act, established protocols, multidisciplinary plan of care, and clinical area specific standards.
• Provides continuous assessment, consults with other team members as required and provides nursing care which demonstrates patient centered/patient valued care.
• Exercises independent judgment in providing nursing care.
• Must be able to demonstrate effective interpersonal skills and possess good oral and written communication skills.
• Must be able to communicate effectively with patients, families, and hospital staff in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• May be required to communicate effectively, via the overhead paging system.
• Must be able to demonstrate the ability to provide direction to non-nursing staff, serve as a preceptor, and serve on rotation as a Charge Nurse.
• Must be able to prepare and conduct in-service educational programs.
• Must be able to demonstrate patient centered/patient valued behaviors.
• As applicable, will be required to demonstrate acceptable knowledge of nursing standards of care for specialty care area.
• Utilizes national nursing organization resources/standards of practice in decision making and when participating in projects designed patient and in-service education programs and quality incentives.

Responsibilities:

• Serves as a patient advocate, by focusing on patient needs, patient rights, confidentiality, and religious and cultural preferences. Maintains positive working relationships with all Parkland internal and external customers, employees, etc. Serves as a resource for patients and other healthcare team members. Serves as a resource for specific clinical patient care issues. Provides patient care educational information and training to patient and family members for those requiring care in the Gastroenterology Lab. May participate in community outreach activities (such as health fairs, community collaborations or outreach clinics) as assigned.
• Maintains and implements knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, laws and guidelines that impact or govern Gastroenterology nursing practice, and ensures the hospital and Parkland are in compliance. Develops effective internal controls that promote adherence to applicable state/federal laws and the program requirements of accreditation agencies and federal, state, and private health plans. Maintains and updates knowledge and appropriate utilization of sanitation, infection control, safety, supplies, equipment, and materials.
• Performs appropriate patient assessments including continuous surveillance. Participates consistently in Universal Protocol. Recognizes changes in a patient's condition and provides appropriate interventions as necessary and ordered. Consults with other team members as required, notifies providers to report changes in patient condition and implements orders in a timely manner. Exercises independent judgment in providing and prioritizing safe nursing care to patient.
• Must be able to manage a gastroenterology lab patient with varied medical conditions. Must provide safe medication administration using the patient's six (6) rights, provide maintenance and management of IV access. Supports appropriate pain management as appropriate for each individual patient, provides emergency resuscitation care of an adult and provides an individualized plan of care.
• Administers sedation and analgesia. Physiologically monitors patient during procedures and uses monitor to record physiological status and documents accordingly. Assesses and monitors patient condition including vital sign monitoring and recognition of ECG changes, and initiates appropriate nursing interventions.
• Completes appropriate documentation. Maintains accurate and timely entries and notations in patient care records and hospital documents. Ensures all records and documents meet the standards, goals, and objectives of the Gastroenterology Lab and Parkland.
• Works with other staff in providing direction to non-nursing staff. Participates in information exchanges with nursing and other Parkland staff that support the standards, missions, goals and objectives of the department and Parkland. Provides appropriate hand off any time care is relinquished. Seeks and utilizes direction from more experience staff and team members as needed. Serves as Charge Nurse on rotation as necessary.
• Serves as a preceptor or trainer to newer nursing and clinical staff members as well as student trainees.
• Prepares and conducts an in-service educational program for the Gastroenterology Lab at least once per year.
• Identifies ways to improve work process and patient and customer satisfaction. Makes recommendations to supervisor, implements and monitors results as appropriate in support of the overall goals of the Gastroenterology Lab and Parkland. May serve on various unit and interdisciplinary committees as opportunities present.
• Proactively anticipates and responds to the needs of patients, their families, physicians, and coworkers. Demonstrates an energetic and positive approach to work. Demonstrates a sense of ownership and pays attention to details of the job to ensure all mandatory obligations are met.
• Stays abreast of the latest developments, advancements and trends in gastroenterology nursing practice by attending seminars/workshops, reading professional journals and actively participating in professional organizations. Integrates knowledge gained into current work practices.