Registered Nurse I Med/Surg 4W

Nurse

To provide general nursing care and/or supervision of personnel delivering general nursing care to patients in the hospital, ages infant to geriatric. Condition may vary from ambulatory to acutely or chronically ill.

Educational Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
• Must be able to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.

Qualifications and Licenses

• Registered with the Board of Nursing for the State of Texas.

Certification/Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Demonstrates competency in the care of patients.
• Uses common sense and special nursing skills to care for the sick or handicapped.
• Understands information from supervisors, charts, reference books, manuals, and labels.
• Must have good computer skills.
• Communicates with people when they are sick, handicapped or nervous and works quickly and efficiently in an emergency.
• Changes from one duty to another frequently, follows reasonable instructions, and records information accurately.
• Sets priorities, makes decisions based on available data and supervises others.
• Must have current BLS and possibly additional courses and certifications as required by division.
• Remains current in continuing education in both the nursing profession and in the field of specialty.

Physical Requirements

• Full range of body motion including handling and lifting patients, manual and finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination.
• Standing and walking for extensive periods of time.
• Lifting and carrying items weighing up to 50 pounds, pushing and pulling of heavy objects.
• Corrected vision and hearing to normal range.
• Working under stressful conditions and working irregular hours.
• Some exposure to communicable diseases or bodily fluids.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Performs patient assessment on all assigned patients in the unit. Assesses new admissions and transfers in a timely manner. Provides ADLs and course of care for all patients. Reevaluates patients' status throughout shift as necessary. Uses AIDET consistently.
• Maintains knowledge of medication most commonly used in practice area. Where applicable correctly administers medications, including IV push medications and emergency drugs. Calculates dosage/titrates IV drip medications. Monitors vital signs and observes patient for possible medication or blood transfusion reactions.
• Ensure that proper equipment and supplies are used for tasks to be performed and that no wasting of supplies takes place, reports broken equipment or unsafe conditions in assigned area and enters work order or makes notation on work log specific items needing repair (follows maintenance checklist).
• Prepares, responds and follows up appropriately to emergency situations. Recognizes need for and initiates resuscitation; interprets basic arrhythmia and administers appropriate treatment, including emergency therapy and defibrillation as per hospital (ACLS) protocol.
• Administers direct patient care, monitors vital signs and other signs and symptoms to assure medical stability. Demonstrates competency in caring for patients in all age groups. Aids physician by providing information or assistance during treatments and examinations of patients.
• Follows proper protocol for transferring patients to another facility by completing all the necessary paperwork to include a Memorandum of Transfer, obtain all required signatures and consulting with Social Work as needed. Patient Transfers to other Institutions: verifies physician order, consults Social Work as indicated, completes general transfer paperwork, completes MOT and obtains required signatures.
• Keeps patient, family and visitors informed of changes in patient condition and plan of care. Provides patients and family members with necessary education and discharge instructions.
• Thoroughly and accurately completes all documentation.
• Demonstrates in-depth knowledge of and enforces unit and facility routines, policies, protocols, and procedures.
• Performs all other tasks/responsibilities as necessary.