Staff Nurse - $10,000 Sign-On Bonus - 9639

Staff Nurse

Department: Emergency Medicine SVH Exempt: No Schedule: EVENINGS - VARIABLE Position Type: Full Time 0.6 FTE or More FTE: 0.700000 Base Wage $43.64 to $79.57 Location: Skagit Valley Hospital

The Staff Registered Nurse is responsible to the Department Director or Manager and is to be clinically competent; delivers care to patients utilizing the nursing process of assessment, planning, intervention, implementation, and evaluation. Effectively interacts with patients, significant others, and other health team members while maintaining standards of professional nursing. Cares for patients of all ages.

Essential Functions:

• Assesses the patient; collects and documents the patient's current health status and medical history.
• Plans/Implements; sets priorities for nursing action in a logical sequence according to patient's needs and formulates a plan of care by the appropriate selection of Nurse Practice Standards.
• Evaluates; performs ongoing assessment and revises plan of care based on new data and patient's condition.
• Communicates with the physician regarding patient needs, the nursing assessments, and recommendations on a daily basis, and as needed.
• Teaches patient/significant other appropriate health information in a timely manner and shares written and visual informational material.
• Performs direct patient care, utilizing established policies, procedures and standards.
• Administers medications and IV's according to policy and procedure.
• Observes and documents patient's response to pertinent medications.
• After a minimum of six (6) months and after specific training in the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) triage protocols, the Emergency Department RN will accept the assignment of the triage nurse. This will be under the direction of the Charge RN on a daily basis.
• Performs indirect patient care, utilizing established procedures, policies, and standards.
• Provides a thorough, concise report at change of shift.
• Performs accurate and timely documentation according to SRH guidelines.
• Accurately transcribes physician orders according to policies and procedures.
• Maintains a clean, neat, and safe environment for patients and staff according to policies and procedures.
• Demonstrates correct and safe techniques in the use of equipment according to specific product information.
• Follows appropriate procedures for obtaining and returning or cleaning/disposing of equipment and supplies.
• Participates in economical utilization of supplies and ensures that equipment is maintained in a clean and safe manner.
• Adheres to Administrative SRH/Nursing Service policies.
• Does not incur excessive overtime.
• Complies with specific SRH policies and procedures concerning safety.
• PATIENT SATISFACTION - Assists patients, family members or other clients with concern and empathy; respects their confidentiality and privacy and communicates with them in a courteous and respectful manner.
• Answers and refers telephone calls or other inquires to ensure accurate and timely communications are facilitated.
• Identifies him/herself in a pleasant and positive manner.
• Takes responsibility for helping the caller and/or visitor.
• TEAMWORK - Assists in the orientation/training of new Team Members.
• Consistently works in a positive and cooperative manner with fellow Team Members.
• Assists other Team Members in the performance of their assignments.
• Seeks out opportunities to help rather than waiting to be asked.
• Considers the impact of his/her actions on Team Members throughout SRH.
• Recognizes the need for variations in staffing and volunteers to fill open shifts, whenever possible.
• Takes direction and initiates actions (cross/additional training) that will allow the assumption of cross-functional duties to ensure seamless patient care.
• Demonstrates flexibility to perform duties wherever volume deems it necessary within SRH.
• PROBLEM SOLVING- Demonstrates sound judgment by taking appropriate actions regarding questionable findings or concerns.
• Investigate and follow through on unusual orders or requests for service or information.
• Follows proper reporting procedures for actual or potential accidents and/or incidents so follow-up and/or prevention can occur.
• Records/reports the need for service maintenance or repair of equipment and removes any faulty equipment from service.
• Contributes to the achievement of Quality Improvement and participate in QI activities.
• Consistently evaluates work and determines if further steps are needed to meet client expectations.
• Takes initiative to do or redo inadequate or incomplete work, even if it is not yours.
• Ensures compliance with regulatory standards.
• PRODUCTIVITY/EFFICIENCY - Consistently demonstrates the ability to respond to changing situations in a flexible manner in order to meet current needs, such as reprioritizing work as necessary.
• Minimizes non-productive time and fills slow periods with activities that will enable you to prepare to meet the future needs of SVH (education, organizing, housekeeping, and assisting others).
• Organizes job functions and work area to be able to effectively complete varied assignments within established time frames.
• Consistently demonstrates the ability to take the initiative to make decisions/choices without direct supervision.
• PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT - Attends required annual in-service programs.
• Participates in continuing education activities and obtains required contact hours.
• Meets 100% attendance requirement to annual mandatory skill updates.
• Attends a minimum of 75% of scheduled staff meetings and reads and signs all minutes of meetings not attended.
• Staff will stay current on electronic mail and be held accountable to updates in electronic mail, or other sources of communication.
• ADHERENCE TO SRH AND DEPARTMENTAL POLICIES - Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of all policies and procedures and ability to reference them from appropriate sources.
• Complies with SVH's infection control policies and procedures including Body Substance Isolation (BSI) and the Exposure Control Plan which reflects OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard to ensure a safe working environment for self and others.
• Ensures that SVH is operated in an efficient and cost effective manner by adhering to SVH and departmental attendance policies as documented on the Employee Attendance Record.
• Demonstrates adherence and support of SVH-Wide Service Standards and SRH/Department Safe Practices Standards.
• Complies with all Skagit Regional Health, department and location specific policies and procedures.
• Performs other duties as assigned by Manager or Designee.

Education: RN required, BSN preferred. Knowledge of fundamentals of nursing practice and emergency nursing. Skagit Valley Hospital is a DNV certified Primary Stroke Center and the emergency department provides acute stroke care as part of this program. Twelve (12) hours of trauma education every three (3) years and five (5) hours pediatric trauma education every three years. TNCC and ENPC certification can count toward these hours. ENO self-directed modules may be available for new to service Emergency Nurses.

Experience/Training: Registered nurse with a minimum of two years' experience in emergency department nursing preferred. Experience may be substituted by completion of the SRH Nurse Residency Program.

License/Certifications: Current Washington State RN License required. Current American Heart Association ACLS required. Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) required 6 months after hire. Current TNCC and ENPC required, within 18 months of hire date. ENPC required one time. CEN preferred. Current NIHSS stroke scale certification required within 6 months of hire.

Other Skills: Demonstrates ability and appropriate technical skills when administering treatments and procedures in accordance with physician's orders and policies and procedures. Demonstrates necessary skills and knowledge to provide care for patients according to SVH and unit specific policies and procedures. Demonstrates ability to handle emergency situations in a prompt, precise, and professional manner. Provides personal patient care to provide comfort and well-being to the patient, acknowledging physiological and psychological needs. Strong verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills required.

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. This position is very active and requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, and climbing all day. The employee must frequently lift or move