Registered Nurse (RN)

Job Description

Job Description

The role encompasses a full range of professional nursing duties, which includes obtaining nursing histories, performing physical examinations, assessing care requirements, and creating nursing care plans. The RN will administer therapeutic drugs and procedures, observe and record patient conditions, and execute physician orders for a variety of patient illnesses, including emergency situations. The role involves significant data analysis, planning, and the use of specialized medical equipment, and may occasionally involve working under stressful, life-threatening conditions.

Location: New Sunrise Regional Treatment Center (NSRTC), Pueblo of Acoma, NM

Facility Type: 22-bed residential drug and alcohol treatment facility for adolescents

Work Schedule: Full-Time, 40 hours/week, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Care & Assessment:

Observe, assess, and record the patient's clinical condition, considering age-specific attributes, and communicate significant changes to the medical provider.

Record initial assessment data and reassessments in the patient's Medical Health Record, developing and altering nursing care plans based on these diagnoses.

Prioritize care needs related to triage assessments, presenting complaints, and standards for chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes, hypertension).

Measure and record vital signs, neurological status, height, weight, visual acuity, hearing, and the effects of medication.

Carry out Physician's orders, including administering prescribed medications via topical, oral, rectal, inhaled, and parenteral routes.

Assist the Physician/provider in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and coordinate the collection of various specimens (urine, sputum, stool, blood).

Apply orthopedic soft goods and splints for various injuries.

Recognize adverse reactions to treatments and medications, initiating appropriate interventions.

Recognize emergencies, such as cardiorespiratory arrest, and initiate maintaining resuscitation efforts.

Patient Advocacy & Education:

Serve as a patient advocate by assisting and supporting patients and their families to optimally manage their healthcare, respecting their culture, values, and treatment preferences.

Support the patient's right to make independent decisions and maintain the dignity, worth, and spiritual/psychological differences of all individuals.

Perform age-appropriate patient and family education based on established standards and document it in the Medical Health Record.

Leadership & Administration:

Assume charge nurse/team leader duties, directing and coordinating the work of licensed and unlicensed nursing personnel.

Assign patient care duties to other nursing staff to maintain everyday activities and enhance smooth departmental operations.

Participate in pre-admission planning for scheduled patients and communicate their needs to the healthcare team.

Ensure Medical Health Records are completed accurately by the end of each clinic day in accordance with the Privacy Act and NSRTC formats.

Maintain and operate ambulatory care equipment, such as AEDs, 12-lead EKG machines, fetal monitors, nebulizers, pulse oximeters, and spirometers.

Check and manage medications, supplies, and equipment at regular intervals to ensure they are current and adequate.