Registered Nurse - Epilepsy Monitor Unit

Job Title

It's more than a career, it's a calling.

MO-SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital

Worker Type: Regular

Job Summary:

The Registered Nurse is a professional practitioner who assesses, manages, directs, and provides nursing care care activities during the patient's hospital stay and coordinates planning with other disciplines utilizing a patient/customer driven approach.

Job Responsibilities and Requirements

POSITION ACCOUNTABILITIES AND PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Essential Functions: The following are essential job accountabilities and performance criteria:

• Performs comprehensive nursing assessment/reassessment.
• Performs age-appropriate admission assessment or transfer assessment. Obtains input from family/guardian when appropriate.
• Accurately and completely documents findings.
• Performs assessment of post-op/post-invasive procedure patients.
• Assesses and documents education and discharge needs of patient and family on admission and throughout hospitalization.
• Provides patient reassessment documenting pertinent observations according to the patient plan of care, changes in condition, status and/or diagnosis, response to care, procedures, etc., and standards of care.
• Establishes, coordinates and evaluates a plan of care based on analysis of assessment data, patient diagnosis, lab data, tests, procedures, physician orders, protocols and standards of care and other information as relevant.
• Identifies short and long term goals based on patient care needs.
• Formulates nursing interventions to achieve desired patient outcome.
• Incorporates disease specific evidenced based practice into nursing care plan and other documentation
• Provides and documents nursing interventions based on assessed patient needs, plan of care, and changes in patient status.
• Collaborates with appropriate health team members for coordination of daily plan of care for assigned patients.
• Provides, coordinates and communicates patient care, including accurate Handoff Communication Reports.
• Administers and documents medications accurately according to policies and procedures.
• Monitors, maintains and documents accurate IV fluids and parenteral nutrition according to policies and procedures.
• Completes referrals as indicated by assessment data.
• Requests consultation for special needs, equipment, or information for patient and/or family.
• Provides patient/family education and discharge planning per documentation guidelines and protocol.
• Clarifies all physician orders as warranted.
• Acknowledges and implements physician orders in an accurate and timely manner as evidenced by documentation in the medical record.
• Assists physician with procedures/treatments as requested or delegates to Care Partner as appropriate.
• Documents "Readback" for all telephone / verbal orders.
• Takes telephone / verbal orders only in emergency situations.
• Recognizes changes in patient's condition and takes appropriate nursing actions.
• Involves the family/guardian when providing care and in decision-making as appropriate.
• Recognizes risks for patient and takes appropriate action.
• Incorporates use of Infection Control practices in daily care.
• Documents and or communicates nursing care and or changes in patient condition.
• Performs and documents ongoing evaluation of effectiveness of care based on assessment data, nursing interventions, patient response to medications, treatments and procedures.
• Evaluates and documents effectiveness of patient/family education.
• Evaluates plan of care and modifies as indicated in "A" above.
• Recognizes significant changes in patient's clinical parameters and reports immediately to physician and others as indicated.
• Identifies problems, gathers pertinent data, suggests solutions, communicates using appropriate lines of authority, and works toward problem resolution.
• Reports variation from care/treatment following the occurrence reporting policy and procedures.
• Provides specialized care to patients at high risk for injury.
• Initiates/evaluates alternatives to restraint prior to application
• Applies restraints consistent with the approved procedure.
• Monitors and assesses patient's response throughout the restraint period at the appropriate intervals.
• Provides specified patient care (toileting, skin care, hydration, feeding, etc.) on a timely basis.
• Provides consultation for peers to determine alternatives to restraints and 1:1 observation.
• Documents restraint use and associated care thoroughly.
• Is aware of abuse recognition criteria and incorporates it into assessments.
• Reports signs of possible abuse/neglect to the Administrative Director of Behavioral Health, physician, Risk Management and Social Work.
• Takes appropriate action to support patient safety when signs of abuse are noted.
• Demonstrates accountability for own professional practice.
• Adheres to all quality and performance standards, policies, procedures, protocols when implementing clinical and technical aspects of care.
• Participates in learning experiences that increases professional competence.
• Demonstrates appropriate technical and cognitive skills for area of practice.
• Maintains currency in all hospital/unit information, communication, policies and procedures.
• Attends staff meetings/reviews minutes when absent
• Participates in Committee(s), Shared Governance, Work Team(s), in a leadership and or in membership role
• Reviews Hospital/Nursing publications
• Keeps up to date with policies and procedures
• Participates and or keeps up to date with Shared Governance and Unit Based Practice Council activities and information. Contributes to requests for feedback.
• Demonstrates ability to change and adapt to changing work demands.
• Responds positively to change
• Provides assistance and support to peers, co-workers and other team members
• Adapts positively to changes in unplanned work load and job demands
• Ability to relate to coworkers in a professional and appropriate manner.
• Orients and/or precepts new employees when required.
• Participates in and maintains a collaborative team approach toward work.
• Functions as a resource person to co-workers, patients/families, medical staff and other members of the health care team.
• Effectively assumes and delegates care and other activities to the appropriate team member.
• Redirects clinical staff when the medical plan of care is altered.
• Communicates the plan of care to be followed on each individual patient in a precise and professional manner.
• Responsible for the supervision and teaching of students/new staff nurses.
• Performs job in accordance with safety and infection control policies.
• Practices standard precautions and disposes of hazardous wastes per established guidelines.
• Maintains a safe, clean, comfortable, and therapeutic environment for patients/ families/employees in accordance to hospital standards.
• Maintains clutter free environment.
• Follows hand hygiene procedures.
• Utilizes Safe Patient Handling techniques and equipment.
• Keeps personal conversations/background noise to a minimum.
• Adheres to dress code.
• Reports risk management concerns using eSRM.
• Assumes responsibility for completing all annual mandatory requirements:
• Maintains current license and certifications
• Maintain up to date BLS and HI
• Annual TB Screening and Influenza vaccination
• Annual Ethics Training (Initial Ethics, if new employee)
• Annual Safety Training
• Required Information Security course
• Required Abuse & Neglect course
• Annual Blood Borne Pathogens training (if required)
• Coursework as assigned for.edu
• Annual competency
• Age/Population specific competency (if applicable)
• Orientation competency (if new hire)
• Service Specific
• Reports variations from care/treatment following the occurrence reporting policy and procedure.
• Provides service excellence to the customers of Saint Louis University Hospital by delivering timely, high quality care in a