Registered Nurse Staff-Surgery

Overview

Job Summary:

While demonstrating through behavior Decatur Morgan Hospital’s mission, vision and values, the Registered Nurse serves as a leader of the healthcare team at Decatur Morgan Hospital by establishing an authentic personalized relationship with the patient and their chosen support system, collaborating with physicians and other team members to assess, plan, implement and evaluate an individualized plan of care that promotes optimal health or supports a peaceful death.  The RN utilizes the best scientific evidence and compassion to assist the patient in navigating their health journey.  The RN accepts responsibility, authority and accountability for management and provision of care in accordance with the current policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities / Essential Functions

Clinical Practice and Patient Care

• Performs initial and ongoing nursing assessments, identifying patient needs, risks, and priorities for care.
• Develops and implements individualized care plans based on physician orders, nursing judgment, and patient/family input.
• Administers medications and treatments safely and accurately, following hospital policies and standards.
• Monitors patient responses to interventions and updates the plan of care accordingly.
• Provides pre- and post-operative care, including wound management, pain control, and mobility support.
• Promotes early ambulation, discharge readiness, and patient education to support recovery and prevent complications.
• Responds to emergencies promptly, initiating appropriate interventions such as CPR or rapid response activation.

Patient Education and Advocacy

• Educates patients and families about diagnoses, medications, discharge instructions, and health maintenance.
• Advocates for patient preferences, safety, and dignity throughout the continuum of care.
• Encourages patient participation in care decisions to promote independence and understanding.

Collaboration and Communication

• Works collaboratively with physicians, case managers, and interdisciplinary team members to coordinate care.
• Communicates effectively during handoffs, using structured tools such as ISHAPED or SBAR.
• Participates in daily huddles, interdisciplinary rounds, and quality improvement activities.
• Maintains accurate and timely documentation in the electronic health record (EHR).

Leadership and Professional Accountability

• Serves as a clinical resource and mentor to nursing students and support staff.
• Participates in the clinical ladder, evidence-based practice projects, and unit-based councils.
• Demonstrates professional behavior and adheres to ethical and legal nursing standards.
• Supports hospital initiatives related to patient safety, infection prevention, and quality improvement.

Belief System:  We the Nurses of Decatur Morgan Hospital Believe in…

Holistic and effective patient care that is based on scientific and ethical principles -nursing is a blend of art and science…it uses the mind as well as the heart.

Creating a work climate that nurtures and supports clinical expertise, education, and research while fostering the recruitment and retention of nursing staff who demonstrate the highest integrity, competence, and qualifications.

Providing nursing care that will achieve an optimal level of health and wellness, or when this is not possible, support the experience of loss and a peaceful death.

Fostering an environment that promotes respect, positive communication, and collaboration among all members – patient, family and healthcare team.

              We also believe that…

We should make those we serve our highest priority.

We should be technically strong with a thirst for knowledge.

Because evidence is ever-changing and evolving, we must actively cultivate our own personal growth and professional development.

The character of the nurse is as important as the knowledge he/she possesses.

The cultural beliefs, ethnic background, and sexual orientation of a patient or family should be respected without showing discrimination.

We should promote health and prevent disease.

Qualifications

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, Experience Required:

• Uses common sense and special medical skills to care for the sick
• Understands technical information from supervisors, charts, reference books, manuals and labels
• Uses eyes, ears, hands and fingers with skill
• Acts quickly in an emergency, rendering appropriate life-saving measures
• Communicates with people
• Change from one duty to another frequently
• Follow and/or give precise instructions
• Records and interprets information accurately
• Able to care for patients of all ages
• Current in BLS

Reasoning, Mathematical and Language Development are indicative of the general level of development required to do this job.  Some, but not necessarily all, areas mentioned in this section will be included in this job.

Reasoning Development:                                

Apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.  Deals with several abstract and concrete variables.

Mathematical Development:

Practical application of fractions, percentages, ratio and proportion in addition to basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division abilities.

Language Development:          

Reading: Read scientific and technical journals, abstracts, and financial reports.  Records data via paper and electronic means. 

Speaking:

Communicates verbally using effective voice tone, diction and medical terminology.

RELATIONSHIPS TO DATA, PEOPLE AND THINGS:

Data:                           

Gathers, complies and classifies information about patients and other people.  Analyzes and interprets data to carry out plan of care for the patient.

People:                       

Speaking, hearing, talking with people to convey or exchange information.  Includes giving directions to staff, patients, families and/or visitors.

Things:                                      

 Manual dexterity: Use of body members or special devices to work, and perform functions pertinent to accomplishment of job assignment.

Education:  Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.  Possesses a nursing license in good standing in the State of Alabama.

Experience: Prior nursing experience preferred, but not required. Certified Medical Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN) preferred.