Promotes and restores patients' health by completing the nursing process; collaborating with physicians and intermultidisciplinary team members; providing physical and psychological support to patients, friends, and families; delegate and evaluate care assigned to LPNs and CNAs to meet patient care needs.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
IDENTIFIES PATIENT CARE REQUIREMENTS
By 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
delegating the plan of care to other licensed and unlicensed associates within their scope of practice.
ESTABLISHES A COMPASSIONATE ENVIRONMENT
By providing emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to patients, friends, and families.
PROMOTES PATIENT'S INDEPENDENCE
By 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 CARE
By 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 directing and assessing care provided to assigned patients by LPNs, Nursing Assistants, agency personnel, students and other associates.
RESOLVES PATIENT PROBLEMS AND NEEDS
By 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 SERVICES
By 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 CONFIDENTIALITY
By keeping information confidential.
MAINTAINS SAFE AND CLEAN WORKING ENVIRONMENT
By 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 EQUIPMENT
By following manufacturer's instructions
troubleshooting malfunctions
entering work orders for equipment repairs
evaluating new equipment and techniques.
DEMONSTRATES FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY
By 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 KNOWLEDGE
By 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 TEAMS
By 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 EFFORT
By 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.
QUALIFICATIONS
To 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.
Education
Associate's Degree in Nursing or Nursing Diploma required
Bachelor's Degree in Nursing preferred
Work Experience
Prior med-surg experience or rehabilitation experience preferred
Licenses / Certifications
Registered Nurse license required
Basic Life Support / CPR, as a healthcare provider, per the American Heart Association required
Certification in Rehabilitation Nursing preferred (must be acquired with 3 years of employment)