Registered Nurse Med/Surg

Job Details

Job Location
Caldwell Medical Center - PRINCETON, KY

Position Type
Full Time

Education Level
2 Year Degree

Job Shift
Day

Registered Nurse Med/Surg

JOB TITLE: Staff Nurse - RN

DEPARTMENT: Nursing

REPORTS TO: Charge Nurse (if applicable), Unit Nurse Manager (if applicable) and Chief Nursing Officer

SUPERVISES: LPNs, Nurse Aides and Unit Secretary on the Nursing Unit

POSITION SUMMARY:

• Is accountable for and ensures the delivery of consistently high quality nursing care on the Nursing Unit during their assigned shift
• Is accountable for the effective, efficient and safe operations of the Nursing Unit ensuring that the objectives of the Nursing department and the organization are being met
• Ensures appropriate organizational and patient safety practices are in use
• Promotes good public relations through contacts with patients, practitioners, visitors, employees, peers and the public at large
• Maintains and ensures confidentiality of patient information.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Ensures nursing related tasks are being completed in a safe, competent, appropriate and timely manner. Ensures a safe and accurate medication administration process is being adhered to.
2. Organizes and coordinates functions and activities on the Nursing Unit.
3. Assists with training and orienting of new departmental staff as needed. Ensures that new staff members receive adequate instruction/training when assigned to preceptors within the department.
4. Assists in maintaining established departmental policies and procedures, objectives, quality improvement program, safety, environmental and infection control standards. Ensures staff compliance with these standards.
5. Assists in maintaining departmental reports and records and collects statistical data for administrative and regulatory purposes as directed.
6. Assists in implementing unit specific goals and objectives in keeping with overall nursing and organizational goals and objectives.
7. Assists in maintaining adequate and effective communication between the nursing unit and ancillary departments for the purpose of problem solving and improved patient care processes. Utilizes appropriate lines of communication within the nursing department.
8. Acts as a resource person to the unit staff and provides appropriate and timely feedback concerning their performance.
9. Interacts with others (on the phone or in person) in a positive, professional and appropriate manner.
10. Works cooperatively with others. Has respect for and an understanding of the contributions of all team members.
11. Ensures that appropriate nursing standards and practices are met.
12. Provides direct patient care and evaluates outcomes. Consults with others as required and adjusts nursing care processes as indicated to ensure optimal patient care and patient outcomes.
13. Documents adequately and appropriately. Ensures that documentation reflects current patient status, changes in patient status, care and treatment planned and currently being rendered, patient response to treatment and care, etc.
14. Assesses patient and family needs. Ensures adequate patient care based on patient needs by performing and/or appropriately delegating tasks as required.
15. Acts as liaison between personnel, Medical Staff and other departments.
16. Attends required meetings and actively participates on nursing committees.
17. Promotes professional staff development.
18. Promotes a safe environment that allows for the delivery of high quality patient care.
19. Protects patient confidentiality by promoting and enforcing appropriate staff communication practices.
20. Monitors staff for compliance with policies, procedures, regulations, and standards and reports violations when they occur.
21. Ensures practitioner orders are carried out using sound nursing judgment.
22. Works shifts as required. Occasionally takes "call".
23. Performs other duties as assigned

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

MINIMUM EDUCATION

Associate Degree RN licensed to practice in the State of Kentucky

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE

Six months of appropriate departmental experience

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

One or more years of appropriate departmental RN experience

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

Subject to temperature changes from hot to cold. Subject to hazardous conditions where there is a danger to life, body and/or health.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• May be exposed to infectious and contagious diseases.
• Regularly exposed to the risk of bloodborne diseases.
• Occasionally exposed to radiation hazards.
• Exposed to a variety of electro-mechanical hazards.
• Exposed to odorous chemicals, specimens and patient related odors.
• Exposed to housekeeping/cleaning agents/chemicals.
• May be exposed to toxic chemicals.
• Subject to hazards of flammable/explosive gases.
• Subject to burns and 'sharps' related injuries.
• Subject to injury from moving parts of equipment.
• Occasional exposure to unpleasant elements.
• Contact with patients and patient families under a wide variety of circumstances.
• Subject to varying and unpredictable situations.
• Handles emergency or crisis situations.
• Performs emergency care.
• Subject to many interruptions.
• Occasionally subject to long irregular hours.
• Frequent pressure due to multiple calls, inquiries, questions and requests.
• Requires judgment and action which could result in death of a patient.
• Performs both standardized and non-standardized duties that require independent judgment and initiative on an ongoing basis.

REQUIRED PROTECTIVE CLOTHING

Eye protection, face protection, gown, lab coat or apron, mask, sterile and non-sterile medical gloves, utility gloves at times. Respirator type device on occasion.

EXPECTATIONS

• Proficiency in this position should be reached in 2-4 months.
• Must maintain CEUS as established by the KBN.
• Must be willing to take specialty classes and other educational offerings as indicated.
• Must be skillful in written and oral communication.
• Demonstrates basic problem solving and time management skills.
• Must have knowledge and skills required to deliver high quality nursing care utilizing sound nursing judgment.
• Must demonstrate the ability to interact with other personnel in a positive fashion.
• Must demonstrate the ability to work independently and to delegate appropriate tasks to other members of the nursing staff.
• Must maintain certification in BLS, ACLS and PALS.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Activities Prolonged, extensive standing, walking and/or sitting
• Lifts, positions and transfers patients with greater than 180lbs weight requirement at times
• Lifts supplies and equipment with weight requirements of approximately 50lbs
• Manual dexterity and mobility, reach with hands and arms, stooping, bending, kneeling and crouching, push/pull, use hands and fingers to touch & feel

Seek assistance if the weight requirement for the performance of a job or task requires greater than 50lbs of effort/force

LANGUAGE SKILLS/READING SKILLS/HEARING

• Ability to talk/converse with and be understood by others.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret written information ( journal articles, patient records, lab data, etc)
• Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers
• Ability to effectively present information to others (individually or in groups)
• Ability to hear alarms on equipment, patient call bell, instructions from physicians and conversations with others

VISION REQUIREMENT

• Far acuity: ability to see clearly at 20 feet or more
• Near acuity: ability to see clearly at 20 inches or less
• Depth perception: ability to accurately judge distance
• Field of Vision: ability to see peripherally
• Accommodation: ability to adjust vision to bring objects into focus
• Color Vision: ability to distinguish and identify different colors

SKILLS - ADMINISTRATIVE LISTING

• Answers and converses on the telephone
• Balances figures
• Maintains patient records - both electronically and in paper format

SKILLS - MACHINE LISTING

• Computer (Desktop, Portable, and Hand held devices)
• Printers
• Copy Machine
• Fax Machine
• Telephones - Desk and Portable
• Calculators
• Pulse Oximetry Devices
• IV Pumps