REGISTERED NURSE (RN) - ACU (PRN-NIGHTS)

JOB TITLE: Registered Nurse                                                                  

DEPARTMENT: Acute Care Unit/Swing Bed                                                               

REPORTS TO: Director of Acute Care

NIGHT SHIFT - ADDITIONAL $3.00/HOUR SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL

JOB SUMMARY

Administer nursing care to patients in an efficient, safe, and courteous manner using proper nursing procedures. Supports the patient and family in the dying process. Performs an admission assessment and subsequent assessments. Completes required documentation. Addresses the patient’s learning ability and needs. Develops a care plan. Enters orders by computer and participates in the daily operation of the Acute Care Unit. Attends required in-service, annual education and mandatory departmental meetings.  Participates in the collection of data for quality improvement. Adheres to hospital and departmental policies.  Practices good communication between departments, with physicians, each other, the director and clinical coordinator. The staff member must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served on his or her assigned unit. The individual must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his or her age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the unit's/area's/department's policies and procedures.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Current or temporary Wyoming licensure as a Registered Professional nurse.

EXPERIENCE

Experience in medical/surgical and pediatrics nursing or a recent graduate of an accredited school of nursing or has recently completed an accredited refresher program preferred

SKILLS

Knowledge of medical/surgical nursing principles. Knowledge of aseptic technique and infection control principles. Able to perform effectively in highly stressful situations. Must be well motivated, organized and able to prioritize multiple tasks. Must be able to interact effectively with a wide variety of people. Excellent communication skills. Able to serve as an example to other employees

REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

BLS

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Nursing Practice

• Complete a head to toe physical assessment and a social assessment of the patient upon admission.
• Develop a written Care Plan upon admission and review and update it daily.
• Initiate cardiac monitoring, oxygen therapy, non-invasive blood pressure, and oximetry. Start/or evaluate IV site. Evaluate existing drainage systems in place.
• Perform delivery of nursing care via the nursing process: assessment (collection of data), problem identification (nursing diagnosis), planning, nursing interventions and evaluation and updating of planning.
• Re-assess patient to identify progress and trends that require intervention or reporting to the physician.
• Assist patient, physician and peers in determining long and short-range goals for patient and formulating a plan to work toward those goals.
• Assist Critical Care RN with telemetry monitoring and maintain knowledge of basic arrhythmia interpretation.
• Operate and manage equipment including the following: IV pumps, PCA pumps, feeding pumps, telemetry monitors, CPAP and Bi-PAP machines, defibrillators and Doppler.
• Provide routine patient care. Perform blood draw from central lines. Interpret computerized monitor trends.
• Administer medications, calculate doses and maintain current knowledge of medications.
• Maintain knowledge of the patient's status during hospitalization and work with health care team to adjust and improve approach to recovery. Utilizes critical thinking skills for appropriate patient interventions.
• Carry out and document medical and nursing treatment, nursing care, interventions and outcomes in a timely and accurate manner.
• Completes documentation necessary for transition between statuses, including to swing bed.
• Assist physicians in care of the patients. Makes rounds, assists with procedures, provides progress reports on patient status, and assures that orders are carried out.
• Follow procedure for medication administration and narcotics control. Utilizes EMAR, scans and uses 2 sources of patient ID before all medications and procedures.
• Assume professional responsibility for assuring patient care is of the highest standards possible. Communicates questions about appropriateness of medical or nursing care through chain of command, as needed, utilizing the SBAR form of communication.
• Ensures that consents are obtained when needed, and that all records are signed and legally complete. Ensure completion of time out procedures as appropriate.
• Complete incident and error forms when appropriate.
• Assess the patient’s learning needs.  Educate the patient and family.
• Treat patients and their families with respect and dignity.
• Practice within Nursing Standards of Practice and follow standards of patient care & CRH Policies and Procedures. Adhere to MD orders.

Unit and Hospital Involvement

• Supervise LPNs, CNAs and non-professional staff in delivery of care to assigned patients. Assist with priority setting, act as a resource personnel for less experienced staff.
• Follow procedures to ensure that supply and medication stocks are rotated and replaced as used.
• Adhere to standards of safety and infection control in delivery of patient care. Follow the standard for infection control; hand washing, protective eyewear, mask, gown, gloves, head cover, and shoe cover, as appropriate. Proper disposal of contaminated items and the use of isolation. 
• Exhibit cooperation and a positive attitude toward other hospital departments, including coordinating smooth transfer of patients for procedures or diagnostic test. Maintain a positive attitude toward managers, physicians, co-workers, patients and visitors. Behave in a professional manner and maintain good interpersonal relationships with other staff, departments, managers, and physicians. 
• Participate in in-service programs as both student and teacher. Takes primary responsibility for keeping own knowledge and skills current.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Enforce and adhere to all hospital-wide policies and unit protocols.
• Assist with collection of data for process and quality improvement, and to meet unit goals.
• Attend mandatory annual education, monthly staff meetings, and in-service.
• Initiate and coordinate Code Blue responses.
• Participate in orientation of new Acute Care Unit staff. Provide nursing students with opportunities to observe and learn.
• Assist nursing staff in other departments as requested and qualified when need arises. This may include being assigned to care for less acute patients on the Critical Care Unit.”
• Perform other related duties as assigned or requested.