JOB DESCRIPTION:

The RN staff nurse has the same definition as the RN charge nurse and functions in much the same way except he/she is not in charge of the shift. The staff nurse must be knowledgeable in disease processes, current treatment modalities and experienced with the facility’s technical equipment. Assessment skills are required. An assertive nature is preferred. Must be able to convey over the phone or in person to the physician a patient’s condition. The staff nurse may be assigned to the ER, where assessment skills are critical. The staff nurse will follow hospital policy and procedures and promote teamwork. Mandatory attendance of 10 or 12 staff meetings per year.

Additional job duties or functions may be requested per administration to assist in other areas of the hospital within your capabilities.

 QUALIFICATIONS:

 Graduate of accredited School of Nursing. May have diploma, Associates or Bachelors of Science Degree in Nursing. Current licensure in Louisiana. Basic Life Support (BLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) required within 6 months of employment. Ten continuing education hours required yearly.

Job Knowledge:

Understands use and limitations of equipment

Familiar with standard methods and techniques

Possess critical thinking skills, decisive judgment

Capable of collecting, receiving, processing, testing, and storing specimens

Setup and adjustment of equipment

Basic knowledge of specialty areas in the hospital

Basic knowledge of regulations

RESPONSIBLE TO:

Administration, Director of Nursing, and Physicians

PERFORMANCE POLICY:

The first three months of employment is the trial employment period. During this time, an employee or the employer may for any reason terminate employment with NCMC without retribution. If the job performance evaluation is found to be of high quality after the three month trial employment period, employment with NCMC will continue. Thereafter, employees will be evaluated annually. The evaluation of employees will encompass the following areas as related to their function and/or their job in the hospital:

Knowledge Accuracy Judgment Innovation Appearance Orderliness Courtesy Cooperation Initiative Reliability Perseverance Attendance Alertness Maintenance Troubleshooting

Record Keeping Competence Habits Confidentiality Universal Precaution

All employees must adhere to NCMC Customer Service Standards. Areas of strengths and weaknesses will be evaluated and the employee will be offered the opportunity to comment on the evaluation.

The RN will also be able to perform the following:

 Physical Demands:

Standing (Total Work Day) ____0-2 hours ____2-4 hours ____4-6 hours ____6-8 hours

Walking (Total Work Day) ____0-2 hours ____2-4 hours ____4-6 hours ____6-8 hours

Sitting (Total Work Day) ____0-2 hours ____2-4 hours ____4-6 hours ____6-8 hours

Driving (Total Work Day) ____0-2 hours ____2-4 hours ____4-6 hours ____6-8 hours

Weight/Force ____ Sedentary Work – ability to exert up to 10 pounds of force (lift/carry/push/pull

Occasionally (0-33% of workday) and the ability to exert a negligible amount of force frequently (34-66% of workday) or constantly (67 -100% of workday).

____ Sedentary – Light Work – ability to exert 15 pounds occasionally, less than 10 pounds frequently and less than 10 pounds constantly.

Light Work – ability to exert 20 pounds of force occasionally, 10 pounds frequently, less than 10 pounds constantly.

 ____ Light – Medium Work – ability to exert 35 pounds of force occasionally, 15 pounds frequently and 10 pounds constantly. 

____ Medium Work – ability to exert 50 pounds of force occasionally, 20 pounds

Frequently and 10 pounds constantly. 

____ Medium-Heavy Work – ability to exert 75 pounds of force occasionally, 35 pounds

frequently and 15 pounds constantly.

____ Heavy Work – ability to exert 100 pounds of force occasionally, 50 pounds

frequently and less than 20 pounds constantly.

Occasionally Frequently Constantly

Work Day: 0-33% 34-66% 67-100%

Bending/Stooping ______ ______ ______

Squatting ______ ______ ______

Kneeling ______ ______ ______

Reaching ______ ______ ______

Reaching (Overhead) ______ ______ ______

Climbing (stairs) ______ ______ ______

Climbing (ladders) ______ ______ ______

Other _____________ ______ ______ ______

May use hands for repetitive:

Simple Grasping ______ ______ ______

Fine Manipulation

(Typing/Data Entry) ______ ______ ______

Forceful Gripping ______ ______ ______

May use feet for repetitive movement as in operating foot control:

______ ______ ______

Mental:

Must be able to promote harmonious relationships among staff, visitors, patients, and physicians

Must conduct self in a professional manner at all times

Must accept assignments within job description

Must recognize/respect chain of command

Must not steal from staff, patients, visitors or the hospital.

Must control self emotionally and maintain a stable psyche

Be able to perform job skills

Must utilize safety precautions, protect and provide safety for the patient (bed low, rails up, call bell in reach)

Must have command of manual dexterity to work with instruments, needles, etc.

Sensory:

Must be able to see clearly (corrective wear acceptable)

Must be able to hear adequately (hearing aid acceptable)

Must be able to speak clearly for proper communication

Additional Job Specifications:

Exposure to hazards such as bleach, disinfectant, blood-borne pathogens (such as HIV, Hepatitis, viruses, bacteria and resistant bacteria), etc.