Registered Nurse

Float Registered Nurse (RN)

The Float Registered Nurse (RN) provides flexible, high quality patient care across all hospital units, adapting to diverse patient populations and clinical settings. The Float RN works with his/her team partner(s), using the nursing process to assess, plan, implement and evaluate direct patient care. As a member of the Patient Care Team, the Float RN provides hands-on care to patients, is responsible for making sound clinical decisions and provides a comprehensive delivery of care to each individual patient; implementing a wide variety of patient care activities and services.

The Float Registered Nurse, also known as a Float Pool Nurse, is a registered nurse (RN) who moves between different units within a healthcare facility to address staffing shortages and fluctuating patient needs. This role requires adaptability, broad clinical skills, and the ability to quickly integrate into various teams and unit cultures. Float nurses work in areas such as Med-Surg, Telemetry, Critical Care, Emergency Departments, maternity, pediatric, or infusion units.

Float nursing is a critical component of hospital operations, ensuring consistent patient care, supporting permanent staff, and enhancing the overall efficiency of healthcare delivery.

Reports directly to Nursing Director, Nurse Manager and/or Charge Nurse.

Responsibilities And Duties

• Provides direct patient care, including assessments, medication administration, treatments, and monitoring, in accordance with hospital policies.
• Uses the nursing process to effectively assess, plan, implement, and evaluate the plan of care.
• Consistently participates in the multidisciplinary approach to patient care.
• Follows evidence-based policies and procedures to guide nursing practice.
• Conducts thorough physical assessments/reassessments and documents patient conditions accurately in the electronic medical record.
• Respond to changes in patient status and medical emergencies, following system policies, unit specific policies, unit-specific protocols.
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to develop and implement individualized care plans and facilitate patient discharge planning.
• Encourages and supports non-licensed personnel.
• Interprets and implements physician orders.
• Assist patients with daily living activities, adjusting care based on unit-specific patient needs.
• Competently performs/assists with procedures that are routinely performed.
• Documents accurately and efficiently as required and according to system and department policies.
• Educate patients and families about diagnoses, treatment plans, and self-care instructions.
• Serve as a flexible clinical resource, supporting permanent staff and maintaining operational stability across units.
• Possesses competency in use of technology and computers.
• Demonstrates competency in the use of Smart Pumps.
• Has knowledge of and utilizes unit specific equipment appropriately.
• Organizes patient care and general unit activities to accomplish required functions with delegation of these activities to other staff as appropriate.
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary team in planning and organizing patient care from admission to discharge.
• Demonstrates the following best practices in a consistent and positive manner: Huddles, hourly rounding, bedside reporting, Service Excellence principles, and use of white boards.
• Understands and appropriately responds to the unique combination of cultural variables that professionals and patients/individuals bring to interactions.
• Evaluates ethical challenges and their potential impact on the patient's quality of care and the nurse's professional role.
• Is knowledgeable of and actively participates in implementation of Unit Performance Improvement Plan and makes suggestions/recommendations for improved operations.
• Follows hospital/department infection control policies.
• Follows established hospital/department safety policies.

The above statements are only meant to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those stated in this description.

Education And Work Experience

• Graduate of School of Nursing.
• Current and unrestricted Louisiana Registered Nurse license or compact state license as Registered Nurse.
• Minimum of 5 years of acute care nursing experience, critical care experience preferred.
• Current BLS-CPR, ACLS, and PALS
• Ability to read, write and speak intelligible English; Ability to learn quickly, analyze problems and communicate effectively with superiors, peers, and others on one-to-one basis.
• Requires emotional stability and resilience; Must be adaptable to change, be decisive, and demonstrate foresight.
• Strong critical thinking, adaptability, and communication skills to work effectively in multiple clinical environments.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

• Float nurses work in a dynamic hospital environment, often moving between units with varying patient populations and acuity levels.
• The role may involve standing for long periods, lifting or assisting patients, and using medical and office equipment.
• Work requires a variety of physical activities including standing and walking for sustained periods, bending and stooping, and some lifting of 50-100 pounds at a time.
• Noise levels are typically moderate, and nurses must maintain patient confidentiality and adhere to safety protocols
• The work environment may include physically confined spaces.
• Many nursing skills require acute hearing ability, i.e. listening with stethoscope to breath sounds and heart sounds.
• Must be able to exchange accurate information with patients, family, peers and medical personnel.
• Reasonable accommodations may be provided to help individuals with disabilities perform the essential functions.

"Experience Memorial" is more than a slogan, it's the care we provide our patients and it's the commitment to our community and our team members. As a nationally certified Great Place to Work, at Lake Charles Memorial Health System you will have the opportunity to be a part of an organizational culture that supports not only exceptional patient care but also the well-being and professional growth of our employees. Join us and be a part of a team where your contributions are valued, your growth is nurtured, and your success is celebrated.

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