Registered Nurse

Graduate Nurse

The Graduate Nurse collaboratively assists as an active member of the interprofessional team to provide therapeutic patient and family centered care. The Graduate Nurse systematically and continuously assists in the collection and assessment of data related to patient health status to develop, execute and evaluate the plan of care or critical pathway. The Graduate Nurse assists in performing all required elements of a nursing assessment, including but not limited to physical examination, assessment of readiness to learn, psychosocial and functional assessments along with the utilization of patient/family specific assessment scales as required. The Graduate Nurse considers factors related to safety, effectiveness and cost in planning and delivering care. The Graduate Nurse assists in establishing goals and strategies for meeting the discharge or continuing care needs of the patient, family and/or other care provider. The Graduate Nurse provides care in collaboration with other nursing staff members in accordance with the Kentucky Board of Nursing or the West Virginia Board of Nursing (depending on state of residence) and ARH Nursing Practice Model. The Graduate Nurse utilizes and demonstrates knowledge of research findings, participates in continuous quality improvement initiatives, maintains knowledge of nursing practice and assumes responsibility for their professional development. The Graduate Nurse's decisions and actions with patients and families are determined in an ethical manner.

As a holder of a provisional nursing license (Kentucky) or temporary permit (West Virginia), the Graduate Nurse performs direct patient care activities under the direction, supervision and delegation of a Registered Nurse or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. The Graduate Nurse may use the title Registered Nurse Applicant (RNA)

Responsibilities

• Assesses and systematically collects, analyzes, and evaluates patient data related to the behavioral, physical, physiologic, and psychosocial status of the patient utilizing interview, observation, and physical examination.

• Works in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team to implement nursing interventions and provide appropriate evidence-based, patient- and family-centered care.

• Executes nursing interventions, develops patient plans of care, and assists with coordination of patient care across the care continuum, including inpatient, outpatient, home, skilled nursing facilities, and schools.

• Collaborates with the multidisciplinary team while incorporating appropriate standards of care, practice, and patient outcomes.

• Delivers care in an organized and efficient manner while providing patients and families with complete information regarding typical events, common patient responses, and education related to the plan of care.

• Evaluates patient responses to the plan of care and research findings.

• Incorporates care in collaboration with the multidisciplinary plan of care.

• Implements safe, competent, and efficient patient care within established policies, procedures, standards, and interventions noted in the multidisciplinary plan of care.

• Provides care that is ethical, patient- and family-centered, culturally congruent, and evidence-based.

• Utilizes data and establishes priorities to continuously meet changing patient needs.

• Executes nursing interventions in response to data indicating urgent and/or emergent patient risk and initiates actions to reduce or correct identified risks.

• Assumes responsibility and accountability for effectively managing the nursing care of individual patients and families.

• Documents nursing assessments and interventions in the electronic medical record in an accurate and timely manner to reflect a comprehensive and integrated approach to patient and family care and clinical research.

• Assesses patient and family readiness for learning and provides education accordingly.

• Identifies patient and family learning needs and adapts teaching methods to provide individualized and comprehensive education.

• Utilizes available resources as appropriate to meet identified patient, family, and caregiver needs.

• Incorporates standards of practice and clinical practice protocols into daily practice to maximize clinical effectiveness.

• Facilitates cost control in the use of material and human resources while effectively utilizing technology to support practice and efficiencies in care delivery.

• Responds to, provides support for, and appropriately assists with urgent and emergent patient care situations.

• Maintains and advocates for patient, family, visitor, and personal safety.

• Works within scope of practice to achieve clinical outcomes while executing delegation protocols.

• Maintains professional development through continuing education, quality improvement initiatives, and obtaining and sharing department, unit, and organizational knowledge.

• Supports facility engagement efforts by operationalizing current nursing strategies, including hourly rounds, bedside shift reporting, and other initiatives.

• Participates in achieving Patient Satisfaction Goals and organizational strategic goals.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education

• Must have a Provisional License (Kentucky) or Temporary Permit (West Virginia) issued by the respective State Board of Nursing.

• The provisional license or temporary permit must be issued by the Graduate Nurse's permanent state of residence.

Licenses & Certifications

• BLS Certification required.

• Kentucky Provisional License required for Graduate Nurses practicing in Kentucky.

• West Virginia Temporary Permit required for Graduate Nurses practicing in West Virginia.

Required Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• Ability to provide nursing care under the scope and limitations established by the applicable State Board of Nursing.

• Ability to communicate effectively with patients, families, physicians, and healthcare team members.

• Ability to document patient care accurately and timely.

• Ability to apply critical thinking and clinical judgment in patient care situations.

• Ability to learn and function effectively in a fast-paced healthcare environment.

Kentucky Graduate Nurse Requirements

• The Graduate Nurse position is time limited.

• Must successfully pass the NCLEX-RN within six (6) months, as the provisional license is valid for six (6) months only.

• Must successfully pass the NCLEX-RN within two (2) attempts.

• After two failed NCLEX-RN attempts, the provisional license becomes void.

West Virginia Graduate Nurse Requirements

• The Graduate Nurse position is time limited.

• Must successfully pass the NCLEX-RN within ninety (90) days, as the temporary permit is valid for ninety (90) days only.

• Must successfully pass the NCLEX-RN on the first attempt.

• Upon notification of a failed NCLEX-RN examination, the temporary permit becomes void and must be returned to the West Virginia Board of Nursing.