Staff RN

RESPONSIBLE FOR: The staff nurse provides nursing care to patients from birth through the lifecycle utilizing nursing processes to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate the care for patients. He/she functions within the framework of the policies and procedures of the organization and demonstrates professional growth and accountability. The staff nurse is responsible for maintaining standards of practice, coordinating patient care activities of all assigned staff in the provision of quality nursing care. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 1. Performs patient assessments to include collection of data regarding the patient's physical, psychosocial and health history. 2. Appropriately evaluates the developmental age of the patient when performing assessments, treatments and patient/family education. 3. Organizes patient data into the formulation of a plan of care; identifies additional information needed and makes care decisions based on identified needs. Identifies expected patient outcomes. 4. Carries out plan of care to achieve desired patient outcomes. 5. Provides patient care that is specific to the setting, identified needs and plan; ensures that the care provided is appropriate to the severity of the disease, condition, impairment or disability. 6. Oversees activities of ancillary and support team members. 7. Identifies teaching opportunities and provides the resources necessary for achieving the educational goals of the patients. 8. Communications issues/concerns to the Charge Nurse, Clinical Manager and/or physician as appropriate. 9. Documents patient care and concerns in the patient record. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES Leadership Skills Effective Communication Skills Initiative Independent Judgment Ability to handle stressful environments Disclaimer The above information is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. ADDENDUM - ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE/CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIALTY AREAS: All Nursing Disciplines (Medical Surgical, Radiology, as well as those listed individually below): Ability to accurately perform physical and psychosocial assessments using a variety of evidence-based tools and techniques appropriate to the patient's condition and developmental age. Ability to develop and implement an individualized plan of care for each patient, in collaboration with each patient, family, or significant other in order to address identified needs. Documents patient's vital signs, assessment findings, the patient's care plan, interventions, patient and family teaching, and the patient's response to interventions. Demonstrates effective communication with patients, families, and all members of the healthcare team. Ability to recognize changes in the patient's condition and escalate concerns when appropriate and to the appropriate team member. Demonstrates protection of safety for patients, families, coworkers and all people at current facility using the methods recommended (ex. ALWAYS SAFE, responses to various CODES announced). Demonstrates the ability to administer medications utilizing the 5 rights of medication administration. Utilizes physician orders, policies, procedures, guidelines, and protocols to effectively provide high quality, individualized care within the nurse's scope of practice. Women's Services: Additional Required Certifications: ACLS Certification (Nurse Residents or Horizon Program Participants entering into a specialty unit will complete applicable certifications within 6 months of program commencement) AWHONN Basic Fetal Monitoring Certification (L&D only - by end of orientation period) NRP certification required (by end of orientation period) Utilizes physician orders, policies and procedures, and the condition of mother/fetus/neonate to determine frequency of assessment. Identifies, reports and takes appropriate protective measures for risk situations such as suspicion of abuse or neglect, abnormal mother/infant bonding, failure to thrive, and potential for infant/child abduction Emergency Department: Additional Required Certifications: ACLS and PALS Certification - (Nurse Residents or Horizon Program Participants entering into a specialty unit will complete applicable certifications within 6 months of program commencement) Performs quick triage assessment, incorporating age specific or cultural phenomena, upon arrival Incorporates relevant cues, and eliminates non relevant cues, when analyzing assessment data Quickly and accurately establishes triage acuity based upon assessment data Plans with patient, family, significant other and healthcare team for disposition from the ED Critical Care Additional Required Certifications: ACLS Certification - (Nurse Residents or Horizon Program Participants entering into a specialty unit will complete applicable certifications within 6 months of program commencement) Coordinates and directs the delivery of nursing care for the Medical-Surgical unit at times when critical care has no patients in order to provide ready in-house access to staffing for critical care admissions Provides direct clinical care for critically ill adult patients according to established protocols and utilizes evidence-based clinical practices standards under the supervision of the critical care supervising physician Asses patient for change in status and institute appropriate emergency interventions to stabilize patient Implements treatment plan for acute illness in collaboration with designated primary supervising physician. Cardiac Tele Additional Required Certifications: ACLS Certification - (Nurse Residents or Horizon Program Participants entering into a specialty unit will complete applicable certifications within 6 months of program commencement) Basic cardiac rhythm monitoring, interpretation, and treatment Advanced life support Administration of continuous cardiac medications and infusions, and monitoring of side effects Monitoring of patients before, during, and after invasive cardiac procedures Recognition of signs and symptoms of cardiac, pulmonary, and respiratory emergencies Surgical Services: Additional Required Certifications: PreOp/PACU/ENDO/CSU - ACLS; PALS if unit provides care to pediatric patients(Nurse Residents or Horizon Program Participants entering into a specialty unit will complete applicable certifications within 6 months of program commencement) Utilizes appropriate tools, screenings, and flowsheets to document assessment and discharge for patients receiving anesthesia. Determines readiness of patients discharge from PACU by scoring and consultation with anesthesia personnel. Responsible for assessment of patient at appropriate intervals based on defined standards of care for patients in pre/intra/post-procedural/surgical phases of care. Collaborates with other staff to coordinate and direct the delivery of nursing care in Surgical Services. Designated Stroke: ED, Critical Care & Medical/Surgical Units Knowledgeable in assessment, planning, treatment and evaluation of patients experiencing stroke or stroke-like symptoms Provides appropriate stroke related education and Stroke Education Booklet to patients and/or Family/caregiver with discussion on risk factor reduction Knowledgeable in stroke performance measures and relationship to patient outcomes Communicates with the multidisciplinary team and assists with coordination of care of the stroke/TIA patient Completes required 4 hours of stroke related education annually and demonstrates competency with performing the MEND and NIHSS exams Transplant: Participates in the transplant process according to transplant center protocol. Implements a clinical pathway for duration of hospital stay. Ability to identify and monitor for signs and symptoms of transplant related infections or organ rejection MINIMUM EDUCATION REQUIRED: Graduate of a nursing program MINIMUM EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: Two (2) years nursing experience in a hospital setting MINIMUM LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION REQUIRED BY LAW: Current License in the State of Georgia as a Registered Nurse or NLC/eNLC Multistate License. BLS certification required. ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor's degree preferred. Advanced certification in field of specialty, if applicable (see addendum)