Position Summary:
Under the leadership of the departmental Nursing Director, the Registered Nurse (RN), I am an active member of the department that utilizes the nursing process in assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating patient care. In the RN, I must be able to collaborate with other professional disciplines as well as interact with the patient, family members, and significant others. The RN I will provide care for patients with various types of illness or trauma requiring basic, advanced, or emergency attention. The nurse must be able to recognize and effectively implement treatments for life-threatening conditions. The RN I is also responsible for providing care that is appropriate for the patient’s developmental age and is culturally sensitive. The Registered Nurse I duties are of considerable difficulty and are based on scientific principles and standards of nursing practice.
 
Basic Qualifications:

• Education:

Requires an Associate’s degree in Nursing from an accredited school of nursing.

• Experience:

Requires up to one year of work-related experience, or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

• Licensure, Registrations & Certifications:

Requires a current state license as a Registered Nurse and is listed in good standing with the state’s Department of Professional Credentialing.
Requires a current certificate in Basic Life Support. ACLS and PALS must be obtained within six months of ED employment. TNCC is recommended.
 
Essential Job Responsibilities:

• Conducts and records an assessment of the patient’s condition, current symptoms, and a patient's history.
• Collaborates with members of the health care team regarding patient assessment data collected and assists in the development of a treatment plan.
• Renders professional nursing care, including, but not limited to, the administration of medicine and drugs, monitoring IV's and blood, monitoring EKG rhythms, performing venipuncture, inserting intravenous catheters, externally defibrillating patients, performing the more complex as well as routine treatments as prescribed by the physician or as indicated by the patient's condition. 
• Using professional judgment in treating patients, and in collaboration with members of the healthcare team, modifies the treatments, and/or contacts the physician as appropriate.
• Prepares or directs the preparation of necessary equipment and instruments and assists the physician during examination and treatment.
• Participates in the education process by explaining and providing instructions to patients, family members, and/or significant others/caregivers regarding treatments, tests, x-rays, lab, and/or procedures, etc. to help mitigate fears.
• Communicates with patients and their families in order to help them overcome emotional problems associated with their health care condition.
• Makes regular rounds to assigned patients, alone or with physicians, observing and evaluating patients' symptoms and reactions to treatments and medications. Determines progress and problems and takes corrective action as indicated or directed.
• Maintains records and charts of patients in electronic or paper format, reports to proper persons, pertinent information regarding the patient’s condition, medication given and treatments administered.
• Participates in Quality Assurance studies and integrates Quality Assurance standards into patient care activities.
• Acts as a liaison between members of the care team.
• Participate in the discharge process by teaching and explaining to the patient and/or responsible caregiver/significant other, the home care needs for post-treatment, diet, activity, medications, and physician follow-up care.
• Serves as a clinical leader, implementing nursing concepts, conducting patient conferences as needed, and assisting in directing, orienting and teaching student nurses, ER Technicians, EMT/PMD Students, LPNs, and other ancillary personnel as needed.
• Remains current on innovations, developments, new procedures and techniques in nursing care in order to provide quality nursing care services.
• Assumes responsibility for safety, infection control and performance improvement as part of CRHS’s efforts to provide quality care and services. Performs all associated duties, responsibilities and tasks.
• Presents a professional image to CRHS’s nursing co-workers, clinical and medical staff members, patients, families and visitors.
• Attends professional development programs and in-service training and meets the minimum requirement for continuing professional education.
• Performs other related job duties as assigned.

 
Standards of Performance:

• Performs nursing care in accordance with all established department and CRHS policies and procedures as measured by feedback and observation from nursing, medical and management staff.
• Performs assigned patient care duties in a timely and accurate manner.
• Demonstrates a working knowledge of core measures that pertain to the department and will be instrumental in ensuring that the data elements are carried out and met.
• Performs an effective and efficient triage utilizing the Emergency Severity Index.
• Demonstrates the ability to recognize, react, and respond to emergencies and utilize appropriate clinical medical judgment when assessing for and monitoring conditions that have the potential to become an emergency.
• Complies with all safety and infection control policies and practices in the delivery of direct patient care as measured by feedback and observation from nursing, medical and management staff.
• Demonstrates reliability as measured by compliance with the CRHS time and attendance policy.
• Demonstrates professional conduct and adherence to all safety, confidentiality, and HIPAA standards.
• Adheres to the CRHS Standards of Behavior as measured by observations of staff, as well as outside and other inside customers.
• Promotes teamwork with the entire staff, as well as other contacts within the hospital, as measured by observations of manager and co-workers.
• Completes departmental and CRHS core competencies.
• Complies with all regulatory requirements including the National Patient Safety Goals as observed by peers, supervisor and all members of the healthcare team.
• Participate actively as a member of the healthcare team by attending all mandated in-service and a minimum of 75% of the unit staff meetings and employee forums.
• Participates in departmental performance improvement activities and actively engages in departmental and/or community projects.