Pediatrics

Registered Staff Nurse

External applicants earn up to $15,000 sign on bonus! Work shift: Rotating shifts. Scheduled weekly hours: 36.

This position supports Mercy's philosophy of patient centered care by being a competent, respectful, and compassionate professional who is able to safely, appropriately, accurately, efficiently, and independently follow Mercy's standards along with policies and procedures while caring for patients. The Registered Staff Nurse works with the unit specific team members to identify clinical problems, develop a plan, and educate patients and families.

Job duties include:

• Ensuring that accurate and clinically relevant information is communicated with patients, their families, and co-workers at hand offs and other times as needed.
• Demonstrating competent assessment, planning, intervention, coordination, and evaluation skills based on the individual patient plan of care.
• Continually assessing patient and family needs in order to provide quality care based on a patient centered care model.
• Demonstrating critical thinking skills and judgment necessary to implement a patient plan of care, nursing interventions, and procedures.
• Maintaining accurate and real time documentation of nursing care provided to ensure the integration of information for use by the healthcare team according to hospital policy and procedure related to documentation parameters.
• Functioning as a role model for current and new staff by creating a healthy work environment to facilitate the department's or unit's ability to meet identified goals and objectives.
• Demonstrating respect and regard for the dignity of all patients, families, visitors, and fellow employees to ensure a professional, responsible, and courteous environment.
• Directing other licensed and non-licensed personnel in the provision of care to patients as assigned.
• Demonstrating effective and age-appropriate communication as well as the ability to understand the needs of the patient including non-verbal communication, fears, anxieties, and language/cultural barriers.
• Responding within scope of practice to emergencies and life-threatening conditions.
• Adhering to and promoting patient safety practices throughout the patient experience.
• Communicating and collaborating effectively with all members of the healthcare team.
• Providing ongoing education to patients and families.
• Delegating to other staff registered nurse licensed practical nurses certified nursing assistants patient care technicians unit secretaries and other staff positions specific to the department.
• Remaining current on Evidence-based practice as well as appropriate Protocols and Procedures.
• Following Mercy's safety guidelines, carries out job-specific safety duties and responsibilities, and promptly reports any unsafe conditions, situations, incidents, and injuries.

Department specific duties for Pediatric Unit:

• Demonstrates an awareness of the special needs of the pediatric populations served.
• Performs treatments and procedures and prepares and administers medications appropriately considering the physiology and psychological development of the pediatric patient.
• The Pediatric nurse is cross trained to provide care in the NICU and mother baby care on Birthplace.
• NICU: Demonstrates appropriate care and knowledge of the ill newborn including assessment and interventions for newborn resuscitation, oxygen therapy, fluid replacement, TPN, skincare, developmental care, medications, NG feedings, NICU admissions, parent support, and teaching.
• Postpartum Care: Demonstrates appropriate care and knowledge including assessment of and interventions for pain, fundus, lochial flow, perineum incision, vital signs, blood loss, teaching needs, bonding, and psychosocial situations.
• Breastfeeding Support: Demonstrates appropriate care and knowledge including assessment of and interventions for latch, adequate feedings, sore nipples, and feeding cues.
• Newborn Care: Demonstrates appropriate care and knowledge which includes assessment and interventions for pain, gestational age, near-term infants, jaundice, temp instability, respiratory status, hypoglycemia, newborn screen, hearing screens, Hugs signs, and symptoms of sepsis, and abnormalities.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Sound background in basic nursing principles and procedures.
• Demonstrates competency in unit specific skills.
• Demonstrates ability to provide safe and effective basic nursing care.
• Role models exemplary customer service skills including verbal and non-verbal skills and proper phone etiquette.
• Creates a welcoming environment for all healthcare team members.
• Committed to ongoing self-development and learning.

Professional experience: Previous RN experience in an acute care setting preferred. Education: Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing preferred.

Licensure, certification, registration requirements:

• Current license to practice as a registered nurse in the state of Iowa or compact state required.
• Current certification in Basic Life Support in accordance with the American Heart Association required.
• Iowa Dependent Adult Abuse/Iowa Child Abuse Mandatory Reporter training required. Employee must submit certification of completed training to Human Resources prior to start or transfer date.
• Additional requirements specific to each department are noted below: Pediatric Unit Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification required within 12 months of hire/transfer. Neonatal Resuscitation Program certification required within 12 months of hire/transfer.

Pay rate type: Hourly.

Mercy is an independent community-based organization supporting the Cedar Rapids area for over 120 years. Mercy is an equal-opportunity employer. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion and therefore evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, civil union status, parental status, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.