Student Nurse Intern-Cardiovascular ICU

Registered Nurse

Kaweah Health is a publicly owned, community healthcare organization that provides comprehensive health services to the greater Visalia area in central California. With more than 5,000 employees, Kaweah Health provides state-of-the-art medicine and high-quality preventive services in our acute care hospital, specialized health centers and clinics. Our eight-campus healthcare district has 613 beds and offers comprehensive health services across a broad continuum of care.

The purpose of this position is to protect and promote health, prevent illness and injury, and alleviate suffering through nursing diagnosis and treatment. Demonstrates leadership in the professional practice setting through oversight of the interdisciplinary health care team to provide holistic care and advocate for patients and families served.

Qualifications:

• CA RN license
• BLS
• Preferred: BSN, MSN, or currently enrolled in RN-BSN program.

Job Responsibilities:

• The nurse's practice is guided by the Code of Ethics. Professional behavior including interactions with co-workers.
• Displays our values; treats everyone respectfully.
• Identifies high risk patients and initiates intervention of ancillary department.
• Decisions and actions on behalf of patients/residents are determined in an ethical manner.
• Maintains patient confidentiality within legal and regulatory parameters.
• Acts as a patient/resident advocate and assists patients/residents in developing skills so they can advocate for themselves.
• Delivers care in a nonjudgmental and nondiscriminatory manner that preserves patient autonomy, dignity and rights.
• Utilizes nursing process - assessed via direct observation, peer reviews, audits, and documentation.
• The nurse uses the results of quality of care/performance improvement activities to initiate changes in nursing practice.
• Collects clinical data to monitor quality and effectiveness of nursing care. Identifies aspects of care that are important for quality monitoring and formulates recommendations to improve nursing practice or patient/resident outcomes.
• Assists in development and implementation of policies, procedures, and practice guidelines to improve quality of care and nursing practice.
• Participates on interdisciplinary teams that evaluate clinical practice or health services relating to patient/resident care.
• Participates in QI studies: involved in task force or committee. Implements suggestions for improving outcomes per unit study results. Independently identifies problematic areas and recommends problem solving. Shares findings of studies, audits with others. Seeks improvement independently.
• Collaborates and communicates with the patient/resident, family, and other health care providers. Utilizes peer review and observation. Monitors documentation for appropriate referrals.
• Formulates the plan of care and involves patient/residents in decisions related to care and the delivery services.
• Makes referrals, including provisions for continuity of care, as needed.
• Team Leader:
• Is a primary clinical resource for staff on assigned unit. Is a role model and mentor for staff. Acts as the Nurse Manager Representative in his/her absence. Provides leadership and support for staff through effective problem solving and decision making.
• Is a resource for staff:
• Is a clinical resource
• Is a role model
• Provides leadership and support for staff
• Supports nurse preceptors and new employees during orientation
• Provides input on employee evaluations
• Assures float staff receive orientation to the floor and feel welcome.
• Manages staff and patient flow:
• Makes and adjusts staff assignments based on the abilities of staff and needs of the patient population.
• Assigns admissions and arranges transfers in coordination with the Nurse Manager, House Supervisor and/or Bed Coordinator.
• Assures that shift report starts on time.
• Monitors breaks to provide adequate staffing.
• Determines staffing needs for the next shift and communicates those needs to the Staff Facilitator or Nursing Supervisor.
• Assigns staff to ensure equipment checks are completed: PCX controls, crash cart, refrigerator temps, red books and narcotic counts.
• Coordinates care in high-risk/emergent situations and keeps Nurse Manager/Director/Nursing Supervisor aware of critical patients and any unit issues.
• Ensures collaboration between staff, physicians, other providers, and departments involved in the care of patients on their unit. Keeps lines of communication open.
• Ensures patient care issues are documented and reported. Assures the appropriate nurse completes a Statement of Concern.
• Understands and utilizes Medical Staff and Kaweah Health's chain of command.
• Provides employee guidance and alerts the Nurse Manager of counseling needs.
• Provides patient care as needed.
• Makes fiscally responsible decisions regarding staffing and use of patient supplies.
• If assigned to the Infusion Center responsible for:
• Assigns patients to infusion chairs and initiates nursing intake.
• Educates patients on upcoming medications and therapies.
• Starts peripheral IVs or access Central Venous Access Devices (PICC, Port-a-Cath) lines and administers infusions per physician orders.
• Monitors vital signs and patient status throughout treatment.
• Performs medication reconciliation and obtains patient history.
• Administers medications (IV, IM, SQ, PO), IV hydration, blood transfusions, and dressing changes.
• Completes all infusion documentation, discontinue IVs, and provides discharge instructions.
• Maintains competency in IV therapy, infusion pumps, and emergency response procedures.
• Provides telephone triage and patient education on side effects, symptom management, and resources.
• Additional:
• Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care and services appropriate to the population served on the assigned unit or work area. Knowledgeable of growth and development for all patient/family cultural, linguistic, spiritual, gender, and age specific needs. Able to effectively communicate and care for patient and family as reflected in the Plan for Provision of Care.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Pay Range: $46.44 - $69.66

If you want to use your talents alongside people who face each day with courage and purpose, in an environment that empowers you to do your absolute best, this is where you belong.