Registered Nurse - Med/Surg Nights

Registered Nurse

The RN should demonstrate knowledge of new trends and techniques in nursing. He/she should demonstrate the appropriate level of competence in administering care to pediatric, geriatric, medical, surgical and trauma patients and be dedicated to bedside nursing. The nurse will also be responsible for the care of psychiatric patients awaiting admission to the state hospital. He/she should work efficiently and effectively with others possessing tact, discretion, and diplomacy. He/she should demonstrate leadership, teaching ability and possess the ability to work under pressure.

The Med / Surg Registered Nurse duties and responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned:

• In charge of all activities on his/her designated unit during his/her tour of duty.
• Maintains the standards of nursing care and implements the policies and procedures of the hospital and Nursing Department.
• Assigns nursing care to team members in accordance with the patient's needs and the personnel's capabilities.
• Reports pertinent observations and reactions regarding patients to the appropriate person and records those observations accurately and concisely.
• Administers medications and performs treatments on all patients: pediatric, adult, and geriatric.
• Directs, supervises, and evaluates nursing care provided to patients by subordinate employees on their unit.
• Assesses the patient's condition and nursing needs, sets goals initiates appropriate nursing action to meet those goals.
• Coordinates discharge planning for all patients: pediatric, adult, and geriatric Ensures that physicians' orders are transcribed and carried out.
• Assists physicians with special tests and procedures.
• Coordinates nursing care of patients, when scheduled for therapy or procedures by other departments. Initiates the development of individualized nursing care plans and updates existing ones.
• Starts IVs and monitors intravenous fluids on patients, including pediatrics, using proper aseptic technique.
• Administers and monitors blood and blood products per hospital policy and procedure. Demonstrates a complete knowledge of the location, care, and operation of unit equipment.
• Participates in patient and family teaching.
• Initiates or assists with emergency measures for a sudden adverse development in patients such as cardiac arrest.
• Ensures that staff makes regular patient rounds and personally visits all assigned unit patients at least once per shift.
• Assists in updating and revising the policy and procedure manuals as necessary. Rotates shifts as required including weekends and holidays.
• Participates in all hospital-wide PI activities.
• Reports all abnormal lab and other diagnostic studies to the physician.
• Accompanies pediatric or med/surg patient on ambulance transfer if deemed necessary by the House Supervisor.
• Supervises the economical utilization of supplies and ensures that equipment is maintained in a clean and safe manner during his/her tour of duty.
• Prepares and tapes a shift report on matters of pertinence, when his/her tour of duty is ending.
• Upgrades skills by attending in-services and staff meetings.
• Maintains certification and licensure as required by the department of nursing.
• Uses CDC Infection Control procedures when caring for the patient as well as safe practices for their own personal safety.
• Follows hospital policies and procedures when caring for psychiatric patients awaiting admission to the state hospital.
• Floats to another unit on occasion to work within their scope of practice, if deemed necessary by the House Supervisor.
• Any other duties as assigned by Administration or Director of Nursing.
• Must be able to give and administer care to patients from all age groups across the life spans, as well as be familiar with the treatments, procedures, and medications for all age groups across the life spans.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Registered Nurse from an accredited school of nursing with a current license from the State of Mississippi. Current certification in Basic Life Support and recommended Advance Life Support and Pediatric Life Support certification.

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of the organization.

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.

Ability to apply commonsense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms, and taste or smell. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles. The employee is occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals and the risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.