Registered Nurse

Registered Nurse

The Registered Nurse provides direct patient care. The Registered Nurse collaborates with patients, family/significant others, peers, physicians, and other members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team in the delivery of healthcare services to patients. The Registered Nurse assesses the patient's needs, plans care, implements and evaluates the medical and nursing regimens in accordance with the hospital and nursing philosophy, policies/procedures and standards. He or she demonstrates leadership skills and commitment to professional accountability and growth.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities Includes the Following:

• Understands and adheres to the WPH Performance Standards, Policies and Behaviors.
• Provides respectful care for all patients that allows for and promotes mutual respect, shared decision making and informed consent all the time while respecting a patient's autonomy and dignity regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity, religion, language, or any other protected group status.
• Utilizes the nursing process to meet the age specific needs of the patient in all aspects of care: biophysical, psychosocial, education, safety/ environment, and discharge planning
• Utilizes appropriate steps in the decision-making process to include recognition and priority setting related to patient care and unit-based issues. Addresses issues with appropriate actions
• Administers blood and blood products according to policy
• Collaborates and communicates with the interdisciplinary health care team
• Integrates patient rights and nursing ethics into work practice
• Adheres to infection control standards to reduce the risk of nosocomial infections to patient and staff.
• Adheres to the tenets of the Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals
• Delegates activities to ancillary staff as it relates to the State Nurse Practice Act
• Adheres to the ANA Code of Nursing Ethics & Scope and Standards of Nursing Practice
• Supports, promotes, and practices within the WPH Professional Nursing Practice Model
• Sustains and advances the Magnet model
• Participates in the Performance Improvement initiatives
• Completes competency requirements
• Attends mandatory in-services
• Attends staff meetings as required/requested
• Utilizes cost containment practices
• Assumes Charge Nurse responsibility
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Education & Experience Requirements

• Graduate from an accredited school of nursing with current New York RN license/registration.
• BSN Required.
• Knowledge of current nursing, medical and health trends and practices in rendering of patient care.
• One year of acute care nursing experience preferred for areas other than medical surgical or step-down
• BLS certification (through American Heart Association) is required.
• ACLS certification (through American Heart Association) is required for all RNs, except for NICU and OR RNs. All newly hired, inexperienced nurses must receive this certification within 12 months. All newly hired, experienced nurses must receive this certification within 6 months.
• PALS certification (through American Heart Association) is required for all RNs working in the PACU, 5I Pediatrics, Emergency Department, Armonk Urgent Care, Ambulatory Surgery and 226 Ambulatory Surgery Center. All newly hired, inexperienced nurses must receive this certification within 12 months. All newly hired, experienced nurses must receive this certification within 6 months.
• NRP certification is required for all RNs working in the Mother-Baby unit, Labor & Delivery and NICU. All newly hired nurses to the NICU, L&D and the Mother-Baby unit must receive this certification within 6 months.
• All registered nurses and advanced practice nurses providing direct oncology care must demonstrate one of the following:
• Current cancer-specific certification in the nurse's specialty by an accredited certification program. Oncology nursing certifications that qualify include, but are not limited to: AOCNP, AOCNS, AOCN, BMTCN, CPHON, CPON, CBCN OCN
• or
• Ongoing education by earning 36 cancer-related continuing education nursing contact hours every 3 years (maintained by department manager)
• Registered Nurses in the Emergency Department must complete de-escalation training within 1 year of hire to transfer to the Emergency Department.
• Successful completion of Department and Unit Orientation Program.

Core Competencies

• Teamwork & Adaptability
• Acts as a Professional Role Model
• Assessment Skills
• Excellent Communication Skills (both verbal and written)
• Attention to Detail
• Planning & Organizing
• Sound Problem-Solving, Judgment and Decision-Making Skills
• Stress Tolerance

Physical/Mental Demands/Requirements & Work Environment

• May be exposed to chemicals necessary to perform required tasks. Any hazardous chemicals the employee may be exposed to are listed in the hospital's SDS (Safety Data Sheet) data base and accessed through the hospital's Intranet site (Employee Tools/SDS Access). A copy of the SDS data base can also be found at the hospital switchboard, saved on a disc.
• Position requires ability to move about freely at least 85 per cent of the time.
• Must be able to remain stationary for extended/prolonged periods
• Frequently moves/transports objects up to fifty (50) pounds and must be able to move patients of all weights with a minimum of one (1) assist or assistive device/equipment
• Must be able to work in environment with continuous interruptions
• Must be able to assess and respond to rapidly changing situational needs of patients, department and hospital
• Must be able to adapt in a high stress and fast-paced environment with multiple interruptions
• Must be able to detect sounds and respond to emergency sounds/signals at all times
• Must be able to constantly operate computer, equipment and other devices
• Position requires ability to concentrate on fine detail with interruptions and attend to tasks for more than sixty (60) minutes at a time.
• Individual must be able to understand and relate to theories behind several related concepts and remember multiple tasks given during the course of a day.