Position Summary:
Under the leadership of the departmental Nursing Director, the Registered Nurse (RN) I isresponsible for utilizing the nursing process in assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating patient care. The RN I is responsible for providing culturally sensitive care that is appropriate for the patient’s developmental age. The RN I formulates an appropriate nursing plan of care and effectively interacts with patients, family members, and other health team members. The RN I maintains the standards of professional nursing.The RN I’s duties are based on scientific principles and established standards of nursing practice.
 
Basic Qualifications:

• Education:

Requires an Associate’s degree in Nursing from an accredited school of nursing. Requires completion of the Neonatal Resuscitation Program and Electronic Fetal Monitoring, or equivalent courses. (If course is not completed upon hire, it must be obtained within the orientation period.)

• Experience:

Requires up to one year of work-related experience, or an 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 certification in Basic Life Support (BLS). (If BLS verification is not current upon hire, it must be obtained within the orientation period.)
 
Essential Job Responsibilities:

• Conducts an assessment of patient’s condition (i.e., physical, emotional, age, etc.), documents assessment findings, and, in conjunction with medical notes, develops a plan of care.
• Collaborates with other members of the patient care team to discuss, evaluate, and monitor the plan of care. Modifies the plan of care as appropriate given changes in a patient's condition.
• Effectively and consistently performs basic nursing skills and treatments as prescribed by the physician or as indicated by the patient's condition. 
• Uses professional judgment in treating patients and modifies the treatment and/or contacts the physician as appropriate.
• Prepares or directs the preparation of necessary equipment and assists the physician during examination and treatment.
• Demonstrates prioritization and decisiveness that enables the completion of typical patient assignments within an assigned shift.
• Participates in the patient and family education and rehabilitation process by explaining and instructing patients regarding treatments, procedures, and nursing care plans to help mitigate fears and to educate them during the recovery process. 
• Meets with patients and their families in order to help them overcome emotional problems associated with health care conditions.
• 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.
• Demonstrates ability to collaborate with other members of the health care team and provide support to the patient during the labor and delivery process and provide care to the newborn infant.
• Maintains patient records, reports to the proper person pertinent information regarding the patients' conditions, medications, treatments, etc.
• Participates in performance improvement studies and integrates performance improvement standards into patient care activities.
• Participates in discharge planning activities in order to prepare the patient and his/her family for release from the hospital. Acts as a liaison between members of the patient’s care team.
• Serves as a clinical leader, implementing nursing concepts, conducting patient conferences, and assisting in directing, orienting, and teaching student nurses, Nursing Assistants, LPNs, and other ancillary personnel.
• Remains current on innovations, developments, new procedures, and techniques in nursing care in order to provide quality nursing care services.
• Performs associated duties, responsibilities, and tasks relating to safety, infection control, and performance improvement as part of CRHS’s efforts to provide quality care and services.
• 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 departmental 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 as measured by logs, charts, and observation.
• Complies with safety and infection control policies and practices in the delivery of 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.
• Promotes teamwork with the entire staff, as well as other contacts within the department, as measured by observations of manager and coworkers.
• Adheres to the CRHS Standards of Behavior as measured by observations of managers, coworkers, and outside and/or inside customers.
• Verbalizes and/or demonstrates core competencies of the unit and department.
• Complies with regulatory requirements, including the National Patient Safety Goals, as observed by peers, supervisors, and other members of the healthcare team.
• Actively participates as a member of the healthcare team by attending all mandated in-services, as well as departmental staff meetings as determined by the departmental Director.