RN Med/Surg

Medical-Surgical Nurse

Provides direct and indirect patient care services that meet the psychosocial, physical and general aspects of care; meets the communication needs of patient and family; provides care that reflects initiative and responsibility indicative of professional expectations in the medical-surgical setting. Maintains regulatory agency requirements, nursing and hospital policies, procedures and standards. Communicates with physicians and team members about changes in patient's clinical condition, including results of diagnostic studies and symptomatology. Is able to respond quickly and accurately to changes in condition or response to treatment. Additionally, is able to perform general nursing duties in all departments with adequate supervision.

William Newton Hospital's Standards of Behavior allow a mechanism for holding each employee accountable and encourages us to "raise the bar".

All employees are expected to familiarize themselves with the Standards and practice them daily.

Integrity: We act with unwavering moral principle, transparency, and sincerity in every interaction.

Patient-Centered: We meet patients where they are, ensuring the are active participants in their care journey. We prioritize the patient's physical and emotional well-being over all else.

Accountability: We own our actions. We set clear expectations and hold all team members to the same high standards.

Compassion: We treat every patient, family member, and colleague with kindness, empathy, and dignity.

Excellence: We approach every task, large or small, with enthusiasm. We continually pursue mastery and best practices in our field.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Knowledge of medications and their correct administration based on the age of the patient and their clinical condition. (Current medication competency test)
• Performs patient care responsibilities considering needs specific to the standard of care for patient's age.
• Ability to perform a head-to-toe assessment on all patients and reassessment as per policy. This includes pediatric, adult and geriatric patient population. A risk assessment is done each shift including fall, aspiration, DVT, skin and malnutrition risk with appropriate action or consult. (2 chart reviews)
• Ability to revise plan of care as indicated by the patient's response to treatment and evaluate overall plan daily for effectiveness.
• Assesses pain and provides individual pain management for each patient if required. Educates the patient and family regarding pain management.
• Formulates a teaching plan including heart failure and smoking cessation or discharge based upon learning needs (assessed on admission), evaluates effectiveness of learning, includes family as appropriate. Charts education consistently.
• Demonstrates ability to perform treatments and provide services to level licensure.
• Demonstrates compliance with hourly rounding.
• Demonstrates compliance with no pass rule. Will not pass a call light going off. Will promptly answer call lights.
• Demonstrates compliance with updating white boards in patient rooms.
• Demonstrates compliance with medication verification and does not use "work arounds".
• Completes work assignments within designated times. Utilizes for efficiency time management.
• Uses AIDET.
• Communicates appropriately and clearly to physicians, floor supervisor, staff, Director of Nursing and Administrative team.
• Consults other departments as appropriate to provide for interdisciplinary approach to the patients needs.
• (Nutrition and Diabetes consults when appropriate)
• Provides care appropriate to condition and age of the patient, including pediatric, geriatric and general population.
• Demonstrates an ability to assist physicians with procedures and performs services requiring technical and manual skills.
• Demonstrates an ability to be flexible, organized and function well under stressful situations.
• Treats patients and families with respect and dignity. Identifies and addresses psychosocial, cultural, ethnic and religious/spiritual needs of patients and families.
• Interacts professionally with patient/family and involves patient family in the formulation of the plan of care. (Updates MedAct and Education documentation to demonstrate competency.
• Maintains a good working relationship both within the department and with other departments.
• Documentation meets current hospital standards and policies.
• Identifies and addresses psychosocial needs of patients and family; communicates with social service/discharge planner regarding both in hospital and post discharge needs.
• Manages and operates equipment safely and correctly.
• Coordinates and directs patient care to ensure patient's needs are met and hospital policy is followed.
• Ability to interpret the results of bedside glucose tests (waived tests) and takes appropriate actions on results. (See annual glucometer competency)
• Medical and surgical asepsis is carried out during treatments and special procedures.
• Response to the patient is appropriate in emergency or physically distressful situation.
• Performs other duties as assigned within scope of practice.

Requirements

Professional Requirements:

• Adheres to dress code, appearance is neat and clean.
• Completes annual educational requirements, i.e., Mandatory Marbled Packets, Annual Medical Surgical Competency checklist and annual Medical Surgical Medication competency.
• Maintains regulatory requirements including all state and CMS regulations related to the Medical Surgical unit and, as appropriate, to the hospital.
• Maintains and ensures patient confidentiality at all times.
• Reports to work on time and as scheduled. Completes work within designated time.
• Wears identification while on duty, uses computerized time system correctly.
• Completes required in-services in a timely fashion.
• Attends staff meetings, Performance Improvement Meetings CQI and management meetings as appropriate.
• Completes annual laboratory testing, TB testing, per hospital policy.
• Complies with all organizational policies regarding ethical business practices.
• Represents the organization in a positive and professional manner.
• Communicates the mission, vision and core values, ethic and goals of the hospital.
• Works at maintaining a good rapport and a cooperative working relationship with physicians, departments and staff.
• Ensures compliance with policies and procedures regarding department operations, fire safety and infection control.

Regulatory Requirements:

• Current Registered Nurse Licensure State of Kansas.
• BLS (CPR) certificate.
• ACLS Required within 6 months
• PALS Required within 6 months
• TNCC is required if floating to ICU or ER.
• NRP required if floating to ER