Registered Nurse

Description

ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION

The Registered Nurse (RN) is a licensed professional who assesses the patient, identifies nursing diagnoses based on responses to health problems, develops and implements an individualized plan of care, and evaluates the patient's response. The RN promotes safe passage for the patients by using knowledge of patient needs and the healthcare environment to assist patients to transition through the healthcare encounter without any preventable complications or delays. The RN delegates interventions to health care personnel based on the Texas Nursing Practice Act, each patient's condition and the competencies of the employee.

INTERACTION

Primarily Interacts with: administration, physicians, employees, clinical and non-clinical departments, patients, and visitors.

PRIMARY FUNCTIONS

• Systematically evaluate the quality and effectiveness of nursing practice, including, but not limited to, nursing sensitive indicators.
• Create a compassionate, supportive, safe and therapeutic environment for patients, families and staff. Develop therapeutic relationships with patient and family and maintains appropriate boundaries. Manage both emotional and physical pain with the aim of promoting comfort and healing and preventing unnecessary suffering.
• Set priorities and assure the completion of care for all assigned patients.
• Give pertinent, accurate, concise organized reports and documents on record accordingly and inputs or retrieves information from Electronic Medical Record.
• Develop, interpret, implement, evaluate, and document a plan of care for each patient using the nursing process.
• Accurately assess all body systems (Respiratory, GI, GU, etc.) with emphasis on system requiring medical attention.
• Recognize and report significant changes in patient’s condition to appropriate person. (i.e. charge nurse, physician)
• Assess patient’s response to illness and hospital environment.
• Assess patient’s needs for discharge planning involving education, home health, or skilled nursing home placement.
• Initiate written plan of care for each patient within 24 hours of admission.
• Review nursing plan of care daily and as patient status changes. Update plan daily by making entry on care plan and nursing notes.
• Include patient, family and other members of health care team, as appropriate in planning care.
• Administer medications to patients as prescribed by the physician and assess the effects.
• Administer blood and blood products as prescribed by the physician in a timely manner.
• Accurately transcribes and implements physician’s orders.
• b. Accurately assesses desired and adverse effects of all medications given.
• c. Maintains documentation of medication administration (MAR, nurses
• notes, IV flow sheet)
• d. Demonstrates knowledge of dose specific to age/weight of patients.
• e. Documents blood transfusion therapy per policy.
• Able to provide relief to charge nurse.
• Able to respond to Emergency Department, if needed.
• Coordinate and direct care provided by other members of the nursing team.

1. Delegate and direct nursing care/tasks to other members of the nursing team according to their skill level and in conformance with the Nurse Practice Act.
2. Communicate effectively with other members of the nursing team.
3. Assist other members of the nursing team in planning, implementing and evaluating patient care, taking in consideration patient's age and other special needs.

• Monitor the performance of members of the nursing team for which he/she is responsible of a daily basis.

1. Instruct/teach staff in areas of weakness
2. Corrects staff constructively, if errors are made.

• Utilize appropriate interpersonal skills when collaborating with interdisciplinary team members.
• Implement appropriate medical plan of care.
• Develop care plan that involves other disciplines of patient assessment, interventions and evaluations of that care.
• Manage self, patient and other employees in any emergency situation.
• Assist with orientation of new employees.
• Participate in quality/performance improvement initiatives.
• Provide exemplary customer service.
• Maintain confidentiality and compliance with HIPAA.
• Cooperate with other personnel to achieve departmental objectives and maintain good employee relations, inter-departmental objectives and infection control policies.
• Cordially demonstrate timeliness and professionalism in appearance, communications, and actions during all interactions and with all individuals and entities.
• Solve practical problems, dealing with a variety of issues, and interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written and oral form.
• Attend meetings as required.
• Perform other duties as requested or assigned.

Requirements

ABILITY TO USE EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, MATERIALS, MACHINES: Blood Pressure Cuffs, stethoscope, syringes, IV pumps, feeding pumps, beds, scales, lifts, hyper/hypothermia units, glucose monitors, PCA pumps, suction equipment, ventilators, crash cart, miscellaneous medical equipment and DME, computer, telephone, facsimile machine, copier, scanner, printers, calculator and other standard office equipment.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILLS/ABILITIES

Education:

• Graduate of an accredited school of professional nursing as evidenced by RN Texas state licensure.
• Bachelors Degree preferred.
• BLS, ACLS, and PALS required. TNCC certification within 6 months of hire required.

Experience:

• One year of experience preferred but not required.

Personal Job-Related Skills / Abilities:

• Knowledge and understanding of nursing and patient care standards and procedures
• Knowledge of medical and professional nursing ethics and patient privacy rights.
• Must be committed to quality and patient safety at all times.
• Must have critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to provide age-specific, quality, patient-centered care to all patients through the nursing process and standards of nursing practice with sensitivity and respect for the diversity of human experience and to develop, evaluate, implement and, as necessary, modify a patient care plan to meet the needs of individual patients.
• Excellent command / highly proficient in spoken and written English; Spanish bilingual preferred.
• Basic computer skills, including but not limited to: Microsoft Office, electronic medical documentation, and email.
• Must be effective at adjusting to change, prioritizing duties, handling stress and effectively communicating face-to-face and/or over the telephone.
• Must be able to work independently, and flexibly, and as a part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Must be able to manage several interruptions throughout the shift.
• Must have strong interpersonal and communication skills, verbal and written.
• Must have strong time management skills.
• Must be able to work under pressure while interacting in a helpful, courteous manner with a high degree of patient contact.
• Sufficient hearing, vision and dexterity to perform duties safely.

Physical and Mental Requirements:

Physical:

Activity Up to %

• Walking: 80
• Squatting: 50
• Standing: 80
• Pulling: 25
• Kneeling: 50
• Reaching: 50
• Sitting: 10
• Lifting up to 50 lbs: 30
• Pushing: 25
• Wrist/Finger Movements: 90
• Bending: 50
• Climbing: 10

Mental:

• Stress Level High

Individual position core competencies:

• Quality
• Service Excellence
• Compassion
• Professionalism
• Fiscal Responsibility

Required education within first 60 days (if employee is from outside organization).

• GrahamRMC Orientation
• Department Orientation

Continuing/Annual Education and Training:

• As needed to maintain certification/ licensure of position.
• Falling Star Program
• BLS/ACLS/PALS/TNCC
• Safety Storm Program

Supervision

Employees Supervised: No

ADA REQUIREMENTS

Each category is grouped under a percentage rating based on the frequency the condition is expected to occur.

Frequency of Condition 1-33% 34-66% 67%+

1-33%

• Extreme Heat
• Extreme Cold
• Extreme Swings in Temperature
• Extreme Noise
• Working Outdoors
• Mechanical Hazards
• Electrical Hazards
• Explosive Hazards
• Fume/Odor Hazards
• Dust/Mite Hazards
• Chemical Hazards
• Toxic Waste Hazards
• Radiation Hazards
• Wet Hazards
• Heights

67%+

• Working Indoors
• Other: Shifts: 12 hour shifts, Irregular hours, consecutive days

OSHA Classification:

Identify with a check the OSHA Job Category that describes this job. The intent is to enhance worker protection by identifying any risk in the performance of routine and reasonably anticipated job-related functions.

__X__ Category I: Tasks that involve exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues.

All procedures or other job-related tasks involve an inherent potential for mucous membrane or skin contact with blood, body fluids or tissues or a potential for spills or splashes of them are Category I tasks. Use of appropriate protective measures, such as gloves, masks, goggles, and gown are required for every employee engaged in Category I tasks.

_____ Category II: Tasks that involve no exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues but employment may require performing unplanned Category I tasks.

The normal work routine involves no exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues, but exposure may be required as a condition of employment. Appropriate protective measure, such as gloves, masks, goggles, and gown are readily available to every employee engaged in Category II tasks.

_____ Category III: Tasks that involve no exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues and Category I tasks are not a condition of employment.

The normal work routine involves no exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues (although situations can be imagined or hypothesized under which anyone, anywhere might encounter potential exposure to body fluids). Persons who perform these duties are not called upon as part of their employment to perform or assist in emergency medical care or first-aid or to be potentially exposed in some other way. Tasks that involve handling implements or utensils, use of public or shared bathroom facilities or telephone and personal contacts such as handshaking are Category III tasks.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The employee will demonstrate continuous commitment to the maintenance of a clean and safe work environment that is compliant with applicable regulatory agency requirements. The employee will follow established infection control procedures.

The employee will ensure the effective and safe use of all equipment used in his/her activities, if applicable.

The competence of the employee in performing his/her job duties is evaluated during orientation to his/her position and will be demonstrated, maintained, and improved on an ongoing basis. The employee will adhere to the assigned schedule and report to work on-time.

The employee shall abide by the requirements set forth in the Code of Conduct and report suspected violations of the Code of Conduct.

The employee will recognize, appreciate and incorporate a patient's and family's unique differences, such as culture, spiritual beliefs, gender, race, ethnicity, lifestyle, socioeconomic status, age, and values, into an individualized plan of care or plan of action.

The statements contained in this position description reflect the general duties considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job as identified, and shall not be considered a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the position. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

The job description does not constitute a contract of employment and the company or employee may exercise its employment-at-will rights at any time.