Registered Nurse - Graduate Nurse - LTACH

Graduate NursePromotes and restores patients' health by completing the nursing process; collaborating with physicians and interdisciplinary team members; providing physical and psychological support to patients, friends, and families. The graduate nurse who holds a TPP must practice under the supervision of an experienced, Pennsylvania registered nurse who is physically present in the unit or area where the graduate nurse is practicing.Essential FunctionsIdentifies Patient Care RequirementsBy establishing personal rapport with potential and actual patients and other persons in a position to understand care requirements.Uses the nursing process as a framework to deliver care by establishing or contributing to a plan of care with the patient including a teaching plan, within 24 hours of admission.Establishing or contributing to prioritization of goals appropriate to the patient's age and ability to learn, estimated length of stay, medical diagnoses and discharge plan.Identifying nursing care needs, writing nursing interventions and identifying educational objectives appropriate to care standards.By reassessing and documenting the effectiveness of nursing actions and the patients progress toward goals as the patient's condition changes.By communicating the plan and patient progress to the interdisciplinary team.Establishes a Compassionate EnvironmentBy providing emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to patients, friends, and families.Promotes Patient's IndependenceBy establishing patient care goals.Educating patient, friends, and family to understand condition, medications, and self-care skills.Answering questions by applying rehabilitation principles to patients served.By demonstrating competence in providing age specific care to pediatric patients, adult patients and geriatric patients.Assures Quality of CareBy adhering to therapeutic standards.Measuring health outcomes against patient care goals and standards.Making or recommending necessary adjustments.Following hospital and nursing division's philosophies and standards of care set by state board of nursing, State Nurse Practice Act, and other governing agency regulations.By participating in performance improvement activities.By assessing care provided to assigned patients by LPNs, Nursing Assistants, agency personnel, and other associates.Resolves Patient Problems and NeedsBy utilizing multidisciplinary team strategies.By utilizing established communication methods to ensure resolution of patient problems and needs.By communicating patient status to the interdisciplinary team.Documents Patient Care ServicesBy documenting delivery of services, changes in the patient's condition and the patient's response to nursing interventions in the medical record according to policies and procedures.Maintains Patient Confidence and Organizational ConfidentialityBy keeping information confidential.Maintains Safe and Clean Working EnvironmentBy complying with procedures, rules, and regulations.Calling for assistance from health care support personnel.By maintaining a clean and safe unit environment.Keeping patient rooms, supply rooms and hallways free from clutter.By complying with procedures, rules and regulations.By adhering to infection control policies and procedures, medication administration and storage procedures and controlled substance regulations.By maintaining compliance with professional, regulatory and governmental standards of care.By demonstrating knowledge of responsibilities in an emergency situation (i.e., code blue, Dr. Wintergreen, etc.).Ensures Operation of EquipmentBy following manufacturer's instructions.Troubleshooting malfunctions.Entering work orders for equipment repairs.Evaluating new equipment and techniques.Demonstrates Financial AccountabilityBy checking stock to determine inventory level.Anticipating needed supplies.Using equipment/supplies as needed to accomplish job results.By minimizing overtime by work prioritization and delegation.Recognizes and complies with RN's role in reimbursement for patient care services.By identifying and providing input to Nurse Managers on work methods that reduce the cost and/or time required to deliver patient care.By maintaining awareness of unit budget.Maintains Professional and Technical KnowledgeBy identifying personal educational needs and opportunities.Attending educational workshops.Completing mandatory educational requirements.Reviewing professional publications.Establishing personal networks.Participating in professional organizations.Sharing new knowledge with teams.Attending unit meetings.Reading unit memos.Participating in committees, projects and PI activities.By maintaining responsibility for own professional development through active participation in in-services and/or continuing education programs.Maintains a Cooperative Relationship Among Health Care TeamsBy communicating information.Responding to requests.Building rapport.Participating in team problem-solving methods.By communicating patient care or team issues to the nurse manager or supervisor.Holding each team member accountable for patient and team outcomes.Participate in team meetings.Offering suggestions for improvement to the program director.Utilizing the chain of command to present issues or concerns.Demonstrate positive conflict resolution skills with all associates.Treat all associates with dignity and respect.Contributes to Organizational Team EffortBy arriving on duty as scheduled, maintaining attendance, punching in and out as per Good Shepherd policy and maintaining etime sheet.By demonstrating flexibility in response to change by offering to assist team members with patient care needs and unit activities that arise throughout the shift.Participating in orienting new employees.Meeting dress code requirements.By attending meetings as requested by organizational leaders.By positively representing the profession and organization at work and away from work.Promoting and participating in organizational goals.By mentoring channels of communication among nursing shifts, disciplines, departments, and external customers.By utilizing multidisciplinary team strategies, to assure resolution of patient problems and needs.QualificationsTo perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.EducationBachelor's Degree in Nursing requiredThe graduate nurse must register and complete the state board examination within 90 days from start dateWork ExperienceNew graduate programPrevious health care experience preferredLicenses / CertificationsCurrent PA temporary practice permit requiredBasic Life Support / CPR, as a healthcare provider, per the American Heart Association required