Registered Staff Nurse PRN - 8th Floor - University Hospital

Registered Nurse

USA Health is Transforming Medicine along the Gulf Coast to care for the unique needs of our community. USA Health is changing how medical care, education, and research impact the health of people who live in Mobile and the surrounding area. Our team of doctors, advanced care providers, nurses, therapists, and researchers provides the region's most advanced medicine at multiple facilities, campuses, clinics, and classrooms. We offer patients convenient access to innovative treatments and advancements that improve the health and overall well-being of our community.

Responsibilities

• Practices family centered nursing according to policies and Nurse Practice Act.
• Serves as charge nurse when assigned.
• Supervises, plans, evaluates, and coordinates patient care provided by other licensed and non-licensed staff.
• Demonstrates CPR according to American Heart Association standards.
• Abides by and enforces all compliance requirements and policies and performs these responsibilities in an ethical manner consistent with the organization's values.
• Adheres to hospital policies including confidentiality.
• Serves as preceptor for new employees and nursing students.
• The RN utilizes the Nursing process to assess the patient, plan individualized care, identify expected outcomes, and implement and evaluate nursing interventions for patients and families
• Performs therapeutic procedures and assists with diagnostic procedures required for the care of the patient
• Administers medications including controlled substances by all routes
• Administers blood and blood products
• Responds appropriately to emergency patient situations
• Starts IVs, Access life ports, maintain CVL's
• Performs activities of daily living
• Performs basic life support and management of arrest situations
• Requires minimal supervision to safely perform patient care.
• When performing skilled procedures the RN can state the purpose, rationale, precautions and observations related to that procedure.
• Utilizes proper body mechanics when moving, positioning and transferring patients without assistance or with assistance when needed for patient safety and when moving equipment that is necessary to perform essential functions
• Provides patient and family education by planning, coordinating and delegating, as appropriate, the educational needs of each patient.
• Utilizes a personal computer or terminal to access the Hospital Information System.
• Communicates and uses appropriate customer relation skills with physicians, patients, families and healthcare team in person and via telephone.
• Responds to overhead pages
• Maintains accurate and complete medical records by utilizing appropriate documentation tools and procedures, including timely completion of ADP within unit standards; ensuring flow charts, discharge forms, pain assessments, and MARs are fully completed and signed; and supervising, evaluating, finalizing patient care records, and transcribing physician orders.
• Accepts and completes all duties positively and without conflict.
• Cooperates, helps others and improves the performance of the unit.
• Completes all mandatory unit, educational and hospital requirements.
• Utilizes cost effective practices in performing all aspects of the job.
• Adheres to current Infection Control and Safety Standards.
• Demonstrates the ability to provide competent patient care to the following patient populations: Neonate, Pediatric, Adolescent, Adults, Geriatric
• The Registered Nurse responsibilities as Charge Nurse: Identifies, organizes and directs activities to utilize resources, personnel, and materials to meet the needs of the patient and nursing staff.
• Communicates with the Nurse Manager and Nurse Administrator, on an ongoing basis, regarding: Changes in unit status, patient related issues, staffing issues, Quality Management issues, and other events as they evolve
• Acts as first line in problem resolution with other departments and any patient complaints
• Assists with shift duty assignments or serves a staff nurse as needed.
• Verifies that emergency equipment is functional.
• Position requires frequent standing and walking, as well as lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, stooping/crouching, kneeling, crawling, and occasional sitting.
• Completes all mandatory department, educational and hospital requirements
• Adheres to current Infection Control and Safety Standards
• Regular and prompt attendance
• Ability to work schedule as defined and overtime as required
• Related duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited school of nursing Required
• RN - Registered Nurse - State Licensure and/or Compact State Licensure in accordance with the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) for Alabama Required
• Basic Life Support Program (BLS) - American Heart Association Upon Hire Required
• Comparable combination of education and experience may substitute for the above requirements.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrate the ability to act as a patient advocate.
• Ability to navigate at a basic level within web-based applications.
• Ability to remain calm in stressful situations.
• Embraces change and lifelong learning, taking personal accountability to seek out experiences that promote personal and professional growth in order to advance skills and competence.
• Excellent customer service orientation skills necessary in order to deal effectively with various levels of hospital personnel, outside customers and community groups.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of patient information, as well as the ability to be tactful, diplomatic, and flexible in a changing environment.
• Must be able to work in a fast-paced and high-stress environment while demonstrating well-developed interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively and clearly with the medical staff, patients, families, and visitors.
• Ability to observe, assess and record symptoms, reactions and progress.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and independently.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented with the ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to work independently, setting priorities to coordinate care plans efficiently.
• Ability to react calmly and effectively in an emergency situation.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive professional relationships
• Possess excellent observation, good nursing judgment, and good oral and written communication skills

Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

The University of South Alabama is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status or any other applicable legally protected basis. EO Employer minorities/females/veterans/disabilities/sexual orientation/gender identity.