Registered Nurse Intern/Co-op

Description

Registered Nurse Job Description 

POLICY:

The Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating the delivery of patient care in accordance with hospital policies, professional nursing standards, and CMS Conditions of Participation for Critical Access Hospitals. The RN exercises independent clinical judgment, collaborates with the interdisciplinary team, and advocates for patient safety and quality care across the continuum.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

1. Graduate from an accredited school of nursing.
2. Maintain current licensure as a Registered Nurse in the state of Louisiana or
3. Demonstrates clinical competence, leadership ability, and sound nursing judgment
4. Knowledge of hospital policies, standards of care, and regulatory requirements.
5. Successfully complete hospital orientation and unit-specific training.
6. Maintain current CPR, ACLS, and PALS certification. TNCC as applicable to assigned unit or patient population.
7. Satisfactory completion of annual performance evaluation and competencies.
8. Basic computer skills and competency with the electronic medical record.
9. Ability to communicate effectively with all members of the interdisciplinary team including patients, families, and tertiary entities directly involved in the patient’s plan of treatment.
10. Ability to prioritize care in a fast-paced environment.
11. Demonstrates the ability to follow hospital policies, professional standards of practice, and regulatory requirements.

POSITION DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Supervises LPN and CNA staff in providing patient care and delegate assignments that are within each discipline’s scope of practice.
2. Evaluates patient care daily by assessing patients and reviewing nursing documentation.
3. Supervises all clinical nursing activities assuring comfort and safety of patients.
4. On admission of a patient to inpatient or swing bed stay the RN is to perform and document the initial interview/assessment in the event that the Charge Nurse is unable to do so.
5. The RN is to initiate the Care Plan process on each patient admitted to the facility and bee an active participant in carrying out the care plan.
6. The RN will assess or review patient assessment for each inpatient at least once in a 24 hour period and as needed such as an acute change in status, fall, or need for level of care change. All changes in patient condition will be communicated immediately to the provider.
7. Initiates appropriate nursing interventions based on patient status.
8. Initiate patient education prior to discharge.
9. Provides nursing care and medication administration according to hospital policy and procedure.
10. Collaborates with physicians, ancillary services, and interdisciplinary team members to coordinate patient care.
11. Responds to medical emergencies according to hospital policy.
12. Advocates for patient safety and quality of care by recognizing and reporting unsafe practices, changes in patient condition, or deviations from standards of care.
13. Follows the hospital’s established chain of command to escalate concerns related to patient safety, staffing, clinical decisions, or unsafe practices when issues are not resolved at the point of care.
14. Supports a culture of safety by reporting concerns, near misses, and adverse events in accordance with hospital policy.
15. When assigned to or floating to the Emergency Department (ED), or when employed primarily in the ED, the RN assumes responsibility for functioning as the lead RN for Emergency Services.
16. In this capacity, the RN coordinates and prioritizes emergency patient care, provides clinical oversight of nursing personnel assigned to the ED, and ensures timely assessment, treatment, stabilization, and disposition of emergency patients.
17. The ED RN serves as the primary point of contact for providers, ancillary departments, EMS, and transfer facilities, and facilitates appropriate communication and documentation.
18. The RN ensures compliance with Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) requirements, hospital policies, and regulatory standards applicable to emergency care.
19. The RN demonstrates clinical competence in emergency situations, including trauma response, cardiac events, respiratory distress, and other acute conditions, and initiates appropriate emergency interventions according to hospital policy and standing orders.

20. When functioning in the ED role, the RN participates in patient triage, emergency preparedness activities, and ensures readiness of emergency equipment and supplies.

PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Adhere to hospital policies and procedures
2. Maintain confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA
3. Participates in ongoing education, routine staff meetings, and annual competencies
4. Supports hospital quality and patient safety initiatives
5. Completes nursing documentation timely, and thorough nursing documentation in accordance with hospital policy and standards of care.
6. Participates in emergency preparedness and response activities.
7. Adheres to infection prevention and control practices.
8. Follows safety protocols, including fall prevention and medication safety.
9. Demonstrates professional, respectful, and compassionate communication with patients and families.
10. Performs other duties as assigned within the scope of nursing practice.

Requirements

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Lifting, pushing, pulling
2. Dexterity and mobility
3. Standing/walking for prolonged periods
4. Exposure to a healthcare environment