Overview

This position provides safe and effective nursing care and treatment to pediatric patients. Employees are part of a managed care team and works collaboratively with ancillary personnel in the provision of proper medical services and treatment. This position is responsible for assessing the patient, planning the care and evaluating the effectiveness of nursing interventions in accordance with established regulations, policies, nursing standards and medical instructions.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions:

Provides nursing care to meet the needs of the patient population served as qualified; i.e., infant, child, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients.Delivers patient care within defined clinic and emergency care standards for assessment, care planning, interventions, and reassessment, and delegates care appropriately to other team members and support staff.Performs nursing care within the guidelines of the Relationship and Results Oriented Healthcare Model utilizing the recommended bundles of best practice.Demonstrates understanding and commitment to mission, philosophy, standards, policies and procedures.Recognizes all staff, physicians and visitors, as well as, patients as customers and provides courteous and respectful service.Participates in the orientation and mentoring of new staff members recognizing importance of bringing new staff into a friendly and supportive work environment.Provides mentoring and training to staff members as needed.Maintains competencies and participates in required training and in-services for unit.Ensures completion of continuing education requirements in subjects pertinent to nursing or position related information.

Assists manager and other staff members to maintain competence and skills for procedures assigned and assists in validation of skills and competence of new staff members prior to delegation of patient care.Participates with team members and manager to identify opportunities for improvement in patient care processes.Utilizes and ensures staff uses supplies efficiently, following infection control procedures, avoiding waste and follows patient charging procedures.Serves as an example for team members in cost saving practices.Follows the Universal Protocol for prevention of wrong site, wrong procedure and wrong person surgery.Provides informed consent for procedures and aspects of care in accordance with policies, procedures and regulatory guidelines.Utilizes patient care equipment safely, following clinic policy and procedure. Reports any identified equipment breakdown or malfunction by clinic policy. Maintains cleanliness of equipment after use.Serves as a leader for change, positively promoting new systems and changes implemented which improves the clinic and the service provided to its patients.Documents and reports any complaints from patients, physicians and visitors to supervisor as guided by clinic policies and procedures.Verifies that no medication discrepancies are present at the end of the shift.Follows and adheres to EMTALA guidelines in arranging for transfer of a patient to another healthcare facility.Screens all patients for the appropriate acuity and priority level in a timely manner.Assesses each patient for potential abuse, suicidal or exploitation. Reports to proper authority any concerns of abuse, neglect, suicide or exploitation.Evaluates emotional needs of the patients with appropriate referrals.Performs age appropriate initial assessment of all patients seen in the department.Performs specialized patient assessments as needed.Explains all procedures and care plans to patients, and as appropriate to family. Ensures patient and/or family are educated for appropriate health maintenance.Performs home medication reconciliation with the appropriate documentation.Orders initial lab tests and x-rays by established protocols or per physician orders. Ensures patients are appropriately prepared for tests.Obtains and transcribes physician’s orders in a timely and accurate manner ensuring all tests are ordered appropriately and efficiently.Completes assessments and documentation of all patients.Assesses lung sound in patients to evaluate pulmonary status by auscultation.

Evaluates clinical/diagnostic reports and reports variances to the Physician and documents same.Develops plan of care and patient focused goals with the patient and family as appropriate, ensuring patient understanding and involvement in their care.Verifies any patient allergies prior to administration of medications.Communicates effectively with other patient care providers and team members for efficiencies and safety of care through appropriate ordering procedures, preparing patients for surgery and other procedures, communicating fall potential and other risk identifiers.Assesses each patients’ pain and documents utilizing the approved pain scale. Reviews with the Physician all critical lab values and documents patient’s plan of care.Documents and maintains all patient care records and related required documentation. Maintains records and communications with respect to patient’s privacy.Maintains accurate and current record of patient’s care and response to care following the guidelines for appropriate electronic documentation.Follows policies for administration of patient identification, documentation and taking telephone orders with read back and communication of critical values/diagnostic results.Documents the administration of medicines including dosage, medicine route, medicine site, and patient's response as required in the documentation system.Communicates and completes documentation for effective handoff of patients care (SBAR) for admission or transfer of patient to another health care facility.Utilizes good communication skills, critical thinking and checkpoints for teamwork. Provides patient information timely and effectively during shift report and with patient’s hand-offs.Provides nursing care to patients with either hard or soft splinting devices; assesses circulation, mobility, and neurological status of patients. Applies splints and bandages per physician’s orders.Performs waived testing per policy and completes associated documentation.Follows proper aseptic techniques in all medication preparation and administration.Utilizes needle-less system in providing patient care as appropriate in accordance with policies, procedures and regulatory standards.Collects specimens following clinic policy and procedure.Utilizes personal protective equipment in performing duties where actual or potential exposure to hazardous conditions may be present.Reports variances in care and/or medication administration for quality improvement.Performs duties in accordance with pathogen transmission practices; i.e., follows hand washing procedures and utilizes protective equipment effectively.Participates in the cleanliness of the work environment.Follows the cleaning and disposal policies and procedures for all hazardous waste.

Follows guidelines for performance improvement and demonstrates understanding of participation in the Core Measures for the clinic and for documentation review and restraint review process.Participates in department’s QI activities on a daily basis.Ensures availability of age appropriate supplies and equipment.Responsible for service delivery and outreach to migrant and/or homeless populations in Palm Beach County at the existing health centers, along with other community sites, as directed by the Clinic Administration.Emergency duty may be required of the incumbent that includes working in Red Cross shelters or to perform other emergency duties including, but not limited to, responses to threats or disasters, man-made or natural.Additionally, incumbents are required to perform emergency response and management duties for Palm Beach County as required.

Qualifications

Education:

Nursing degree from an accredited nursing school required.

Experience:

One (1) year of acute care nursing experience as an RN preferred.

Pediatrics experience preferred.

Bilingual preferred.

Certification:

Current ACLS or BLS certification required.

Licensure:

State of Florida, Registered Nurse license required.

Health Care District of Palm Beach County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and Drug Free Workplace. We embrace diversity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.