Registered Nurse

The Position

Incumbent works under the direction of the Chief Nursing Officer or designee, overseeing nursing care, supervising nursing staff and ensuring care needs are met and in accordance with physician orders, nursing scope of practice, nursing standards of care, and policies and procedures.

Essential Functions

• Assess patients/residents, initiate physician orders, and administer medications, complete procedures and provide treatments.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with clients, supervisors, County employees, elected officials, attorneys, law enforcement, judges, outside agencies, vendors, and the public.
• Comply with Civil Service policies and regulations, collective bargaining agreements, County policies, department policies and laws to create a cooperative, safe, respectful and quality work environment.
• Plan, coordinate, and supervise nursing care ensuring compliance with standards of care, policy/procedures.
• Observe and take appropriate action regarding desired effects, side effects, interactions, and contraindications associated with the medication(s) administered.
• Perform direct hands-on care and provide patient/resident education.
• Develop, document, and implement individualized interdisciplinary care plans ensuring care/medical needs are met and completing sections of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment.
• Document assessments, care, education and observations in medical record.
• Assist with supervising assigned staff (e.g. orienting, training, directing, evaluating). Work with team members, families, visitors, and volunteers creating a positive and pleasant health care environment.
• Complete nursing rounds, provide follow-up supervision, and assist/consult with staff ensuring quality nursing care is provided and consulting with attending physician for treatments, medications, rehabilitation, etc.
• Ensure resident information exchange amongst staff, conducting change-of-shift reports utilizing professional expertise in assigning staff based upon level of training/scope of practice.
• Serve as a resource, promote a positive work environment, and assist in resolving complaints/conflicts.
• Provide facility orientation to new residents and their families.
• Maintain confidentiality of department, resident, employee information, communication and documentation comply with privacy laws and regulations.
• Inform appropriate staff, resident's guardian and physician of change in condition, continue communication, and immediately report any suspicion/allegations of abuse/neglect/misappropriation of property to Supervisor.
• Review and update documented plans of care and discharge plans.
• Assist in the admission, transfer, and dismissal of residents, completing related documentation.
• Serve as a mentor/preceptor to coworkers, students, and agency/outside personnel, ensuring function within scope of practice, and helping others learn by teaching and being a positive role model.
• Encourage, empower, and support resident's maintaining or regaining independence, accommodating choices, assisting in directing daily life, and helping maintain personal belongings.
• Investigate complaints and/or suggestions from residents, coworkers or the public; and taking steps to remedy problems.
• Respond to and assist with medical and psychiatric emergencies and codes.
• Observe, adhere to, and promote emergency/safety protocols and measures related to hazards (e.g. bio, chemical, fire, weather, internal disasters, wandering residents, community disasters).
• Participate in Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) activities.
• Provide and promote a positive image of DCHC and serve as a representative for community agencies, nursing schools, and the public.
• Cultivate, promote, and engage in an environment providing companionship and upholding self-worth.
• Treat residents, coworkers and the public with dignity and respect.
• Complete resident pre-admission assessment at other hospitals.
• Complete pre-admission nursing assessments reviewing medical records matching resident specifics to admission criteria ensuring appropriate admission.
• Gather referral information, coordinating communications between departments (e.g. medical directors, physicians, discharge planners, nursing, social workers, finance, pharmacy and caregivers) ensuring a smooth admission process.
• Monitor, evaluate and improve the admission/referral process.
• Promote and maintain a clean and safe work environment ensuring malfunctioning equipment tagged for repairs and removal.
• Maintain job knowledge and skills (e.g. journals, meetings, workshops, webinars, seminars, continuing education).
• Safely operate a motor vehicle when required to travel on County business.
• Report to work at assigned location with regular, consistent attendance.
• Perform other duties as assigned and directed.

Education and Work Experience and Other Requirements

• Associate's degree or diploma from an accredited college or university in nursing required.
• Registered Nurse with current Nebraska nursing license from a compact state recognized by the Nebraska Board of Nursing upon hire and maintained in good standing throughout employment required.
• Bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN) preferred.
• Experience with Electronic Health Care Records preferred.
• Experience in a health care environment including acute care, skilled rehabilitation, skilled nursing or long-term care preferred.
• Basic life support/cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification within three (3) months of hire and maintained throughout employment required.
• Valid driver's license upon hire and maintained throughout employment required.
• Completion of pre-employment criminal record check, conditional drug screen, and physical assessment required.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

• The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Work is generally performed indoors in a healthcare facility. Noise level is usually moderate to loud. Work hours are typically standard day-shift hours; however, schedules may vary (e.g. days, shifts, hours, weekends, overtime/extra hours, holidays, emergency call-in). Work involves potential exposure to biohazards and risk of injury from distraught individuals. Work may be stressful when dealing with time constraints, multiple/changing priorities, limited resources, emergency situations and uncooperative/irate individuals.
• Work requires some physical activity, including extended periods of standing, walking, bending, frequent reaching, and occasional sitting, kneeling, climbing, stooping, crouching, and balancing. Work also requires the ability to frequently lift/carry up to 50 pounds and push/pull up to 50 pounds of force with grip strength of 65 pounds of force.
• Required sensory abilities include vision, hearing and touch. Visual abilities, correctable to normal ranges, include close, distance, color and peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. Communication abilities include the ability to talk and hear within normal ranges. Incumbent must possess eye hand coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate computers and other equipment.

Douglas County is an EOE - Disability/Veterans