Registered Nurse

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the direction of the Clinical Nurse Manager and the direct supervision of the Charge RN or designee, the Registered Nurse (RN) provides general nursing care, including treatments, administering medications, preparing patients for and assisting in examinations. The RN also provides patient education within their scope of practice to meet the needs of MHSI's patient population; assembles and operates clinical equipment, records appropriate information in patient records, oversees and directs medical assistants, and manages patient flow in the department. They maintain a collaborative relationship with all management staff. All duties performed must reflect the employee's scope of practice and Clinical Skill Checklist competency as determined during orientation and introductory periods and updated as recommended by the supervisor.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
(To be performed within the employee's scope of licensure.)

* Obtain vital signs; assess and monitor patient clinical symptoms; determine chief complaint per clinic protocol; identify reactions to and/or perception of illness or expression of need; communicate this information to the provider to ensure follow-up assessment if required.

* Recognize and respond to emergencies; perform triage duties in person and over the phone utilizing established policies and procedures.

* Investigate urgency of patient symptoms and facilitate patient access to appropriate medical services either within the clinic, affiliated facilities, or hospital. Document and relay messages appropriately.

* Prepare patients for exam and/or treatment, collect data, and initiate appropriate procedures per department protocol. Implement nursing measures for the comfort and well-being of the patient as needed.

* Assist in the examination of patients. Perform and/or assist with EKGs, nebulizer treatments, wound care, other treatments/procedures, medication administration, and other common ambulatory care procedures based on written provider orders and clinical procedures.

* Administer oral, subcutaneous, intradermal, intramuscular, intravenous, inhaled, and topical medications, including immunizations, as permitted by licensure and established protocols. Provide complete, accurate documentation of nursing assessment, nursing advice, and medication administration.

* Notify patients of diagnostic test results. Communicate abnormal results to the appropriate medical staff for input prior to contacting the patient.

* Identify and document patient care gaps (such as overdue preventive screenings, immunizations, chronic condition follow-ups, and labs) in the EMR and proactively bring them to the supervising provider's attention so they can be addressed and closed during the patient encounter

* Assist with providing extended/urgent care nursing coverage as needed and when requested for various MHSI sites.

* Coordinate and ensure providers' schedules are reviewed the day before to determine appropriateness and that the necessary equipment is available the day of the patient's visit.

* Coordinate and ensure that charts are reviewed prior to patient arrival to assure necessary reports are available prior to the visit; review and follow up on lab reports in accordance with departmental protocol.

* Work collaboratively with the provider for the coordination of quality health care to the clinic's patients including screening and handling messages/phone notes, processing referrals, orders, medication refills, and communicating delays in care to patients and relevant staff.

* Ensure department and clinic efficiency by giving report (on staffing, clinic flow, priority of patients, etc.) to next shift nurse before leaving at the completion of the previous shift.

* Schedule appointments, referrals/consultations, collect specimens, perform rapid tests, and assist those with special needs.

* Comply with all policies and procedures related to the clinical and corporation (nursing, human resources, safety and security, etc.).

* Provide patient education within scope of practice and skill level.

* Room patients when a medical assistant is unavailable.

* Order and maintain necessary medical supplies and inventory for exam rooms and medical assistant carts, including assisting with inventory of injectables and medications. Ensure stocking/preparation of rooms and carts according to provider's specialty prior to and at the end of each clinical session.

* Manage and maintain sample and floor stock medications. Ensure that all medications in the department are current (not expired) and stored safely away from patients and unlicensed assistive personnel. Maintain a sample medication log containing information for samples checked into the department and samples given to patients.

* Operate and supervise operation of specialized equipment assigned to the department and provide assistance and guidelines to staff on usage and maintenance as necessary.

* Review encounter documentation for accuracy and completeness to ensure timely billing. Work with providers and staff to acquire additional information if necessary.

* Assist with the resolution of patient flow problems and work with the Clinical Nurse Manager and/or Clinical Staff Coordinator to improve departmental operations and staff efficiency.

* Assist with chart audits as necessary upon request from the Quality Manager and/or Clinical Nurse Manager.

* Report, preferably in writing or via email, any concerns, deficits, or factors that impede the care of patients to the Charge RN or Clinical Nurse Manager.

* Rotate among departments/sites as needed to ensure adequate staffing.

* Responsible for weekly/monthly reports assigned; maintain and compile logs, files, and records as required and according to established protocol.

* Comply and assist in ensuring all policies and procedures related to the clinical and corporation (nursing, human resources, OSHA, safety and security, etc.) are in compliance with and promote safety and infection control standards, maintaining a clean and safe environment for patients, visitors, and staff.

* Ensure cleanliness of exam rooms and nursing station between patients and at the close of shift per protocols. Organize work area and patient waiting area so that it is neat and clean at all times.

* Attend regular internal and external departmental meetings as assigned.

* Ask for help, direction, assistance, and support as needed.

* Seek and participate in continuing educational/professional training opportunities including regularly reading specialty-related materials.

* Participate in orientation and training of new medical assistant employees as directed by the Clinical Nurse Manager and MHSI protocols.

* Perform other duties as assigned.

POSITION REQUIRMENTS:

* Education & Licensure: Graduate of an accredited nursing program with a current, unrestricted license to practice as a Registered Nurse in Wisconsin or in another Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state with multistate privileges permitting practice in Wisconsin . Current CPR certification required.

* Experience: Minimum of two years of hands-on clinical experience preferred (e.g., physician's office, hospital, long-term care, or other acute care setting). Other relevant clinical backgrounds will be considered.

Skills & Competencies:

* Proficiency in using and maintaining medical equipment assigned to nursing services; manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination required.

* Ability to evaluate situations, make decisions, and resolve conflicts effectively.

* Strong oral and written communication skills; ability to build effective working relationships with patients, support staff, and providers.

* Successful completion of on-the-job orientation required.

Additional Abilities:

* Read and interpret safety rules, operating/maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.

* Perform basic math calculations (add, subtract, multiply, divide; interpret bar graphs).

* apply common-sense understanding to carry out written, oral, or diagram instructions.

* Hours of Work & Travel: May vary based on organizational need.

A review of this position description may have excluded some of the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of fundamental job duties. This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisors.