Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center

Department: Intensive Care Unit

Position is located: Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center

Work Type: Full Time

Hours Per Week: 36.00

Work Schedule: 7:00 AM to 7:30 PM

Summary :

The Staff Nurse I is a fully competent practitioner of nursing who meets the criteria of our Professional Advancement Commitment to Excellence (PACE) career ladder. The incumbent is responsible for the practice of nursing according to the Rules and Regulations defined in the State of Maine Nurse Practice Act, Northern Light Health Standards of Care/Practice, policies and procedures. The Staff Nurse I is responsible for the delivery of patient care to assigned patients on a Nursing Unit, and for the supervision of other qualified staff to whom the Staff Nurse I has delegated patient care in the exercise of his/her independent judgment. The nurse plans and evaluates the nursing care for patients and families and exercises independent judgment in implementing the care him/herself or assigning the care to other qualified staff. The nurse addresses physical, spiritual, emotional, and educational needs of the patient, and coordinates the plan of care with other healthcare professionals. The incumbent performs duties and tasks in accordance with performance standards established for the job.

Responsibilities :

Patient Safety

• Maintains a safe and therapeutic environment by understanding and complying with hospital policies/procedures and national safety goals and identifying & communicating workarounds that have a potential impact on patient safety.
• Demonstrates knowledge and skills in location, operation, care and troubleshooting of unit equipment independently.

• Performs and documents comprehensive and holistic assessments.
• Interprets and responds to abnormal diagnostic data. Anticipates potential emergency situations and intervenes safely with assistance if needed.

• Develops a relationship with the patient/family that facilitates mutual involvement in the planning of care.
• Treats patients with courtesy and respect.
• Seeks resources for reconciling one’s own personal issues and biases.

• Demonstrates basic critical thinking skills.

• Documentation is accurate and complete reflecting adherence to hospital, regulatory and legal requirements.

• Completes population-specific mandatory education competencies as defined by the unit specific scope of service.
• Identifies age, cultural, or other population specific patient needs based on assessment findings.
• Works collaboratively with patients and families of diverse backgrounds to develop plan of care.
• Is tolerant of differences posed by patients and families while cognizant of personal biases.

• Practice is consistent with Northern Light Health policy and procedures.
• Understands evidence for practice change.
• Demonstrates knowledge of reliable resources to support evidenced based practice.

• Utilizes appropriate time management and meets the expectations for punctuality and attendance.
• Demonstrates flexibility in scheduling to support the staffing needs of patient care areas.
• Contributes to a healthy work environment by consistently utilizing effective communications with all members of the interdisciplinary team.
• Ensures continuity of care by reporting and addressing actual or potential conflict.

• Actively implements and updates multidisciplinary plan of care and collaborates with internal and external resources to meet patient care needs.
• Identifies and evaluates changes in patient conditions that may impact unit staffing levels or the provision of safe patient care.
• Contributes to a healthy work environment by exhibiting professional behaviors and seeks assistance in addressing interpersonal conflicts with the right person, at the right times, in the right location.
• Support colleagues in the daily care of patients on the unit.
• Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to maximize patient care.

• Utilizes available resources in an appropriate manner and seeks assistance when needed.

• Demonstrates knowledge of and contributes positively to unit-based performance improvement outcomes.
• Identifies potential safety issues to unit manager and/or unit-based practice council.

• Takes responsibility for meeting education and mandatory programs, by completing clinical evidence-based competencies (CBO) and member specific competencies.
• Obtains 12 contact hours or a 3-credit professional development course and 6 contact hours or as specified by individual member organization.
• Seeks opportunities to promote and advance professional growth.
• Serves on and/or contributes to the work of unit-based practice council.
• Seeks evidence in nursing literature to identify/support best practice.
• Maintains an up-to-date personal educational file to demonstrate compliance with educational requirements.
• Actively participates in the peer review process.

Other Information :

• BLS Required.
• Must demonstrate system values and integrates them into daily organizational practice.
• Must actively support patient-centered care with sensitivity and respect for the diversity of human experience.
• Must have ability to handle difficult and stressful situations with professional composure.
• Must have ability to influence others' actions and decisions without express authority.
• Must have working knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, data entry, database experience and other computer related skills.
• Must be nationally certified in the area of specialty for the EMMC PACE career ladder.

Competencies and Skills

• Achieves Results: Sets high standards for their own outcomes and seizes opportunities to engage others towards objectives. Consistently moves forward with direct actions in order to attain or exceed objectives. Manages their own time effectively to accomplish assigned tasks. Successfully prioritizes multiple projects and duties as needed.
• Acts Strategically: Creates effective plans that anticipate future consequences and opportunities and is able to connect the day to day operations to longer-term objectives, shifts in the industry, and system goals.
• Basic Life Support
• Behaves with Integrity and Builds Trust: Acts consistently in line with the core values, commitments and rules of conduct. Leads by example and tells the truth. Does what they say they will, when and how they say they will, or communicates an alternate plan.
• Blood Pressure Measurement
• Cultivates Respect: Treats others fairly, embraces and values differences, and contributes to a culture of diversity, inclusion, empowerment and cooperation.
• Demonstrates Adaptability: Learns quickly when facing a new problem or unfamiliar task; is flexible in their approach with changing priorities and ambiguity. Manages change effectively and does not give up during adversity. Capable of changing one's behavioral style and/or views in order to attain a goal. Absorbs new information readily and puts it into practice effectively.
• Demonstrates Emotional Intelligence: Exhibits a high level of self-awareness, self-management, other awareness and relationship management. Conducts themselves in an empathic, appropriate way, with a sense of humor and stimulates a collaborative work environment. Is respectful of the attitudes, feelings, or circumstances of others and aware of the influence of their own behavior on them. Is aware of relevant social, political, system, and professional trends and developments and uses this information for the organization's benefit.
• Develops Self and Others:Takes responsibility for engaging in professional self-development activities and programs. Strives to gain insight into their own values, strengths and weaknesses, interests and ambitions and takes action in order to enhance competencies and skills when possible. As a leader, encourages and guides employees towards growth opportunities to enhance performance and help them reach goals. Reviews and analyzes employees' strengths and weaknesses to distinguish their talents and development needs, and to ensure they are enhanced appropriately.
• Effectively Communicates: Listens, speaks and writes appropriately, using clear language. Communication methods are fitting to the message(s), audience, and situation and follow-ups are regular and timely. Shows that important (non-) verbal information is absorbed and understood and asks further questions to clarify when necessary. Expresses ideas and views clearly to others and has ability to adjust use of language to the audiences' level.
• Exercises Sound Judgment & Decision Making: Understands and processes complex information, which allows for appropriate and accountable conclusions. Does not react too quickly or slowly. Balances facts, goals, and potential approaches taking the appropriate criteria into account. Makes active decisions and commits oneself by communicating confidently and respectfully.
• Fosters Accountability: Creates and participates in a work environment where people hold themselves and others accountable for processes, results and behaviors. Takes appropriate ownership not only of successes but also mistakes and works to correct them in a timely manner. Demonstrates understanding that we all work as a team and the quality and timeliness of work impacts everyone involved.
• Fosters Innovation: Employs and encourages the use of meaningful creativity in solving challenges. Proactively identifies opportunities and uses new approaches to enhance processes, systems and services. When appropriate, suggests or initiates new strategies, products, services, and markets.
• Influences and Inspires: Builds enthusiasm and commitment among others to move in a desired direction and models it personally. Creates a compelling vision of success that motivates workplace initiative and energizes others to follow. Provides direction and guidance to encourage cooperation between team members in order to attain an objective. Has the ability to appropriately influence others' actions and decisions with and without express authority.
• IV Placement
• Ability to understand the language used to precisely describe the human body including its components, processes, conditions affecting it, and procedures performed upon it.
• Spreadsheet application with the ability to use calculations, formulas, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming.
• Email application with the ability to manage email as well as calendars, managing tasks and contacts, note taking, journaling, and web browsing.
• Word process application with the ability to create and edit documents, format, use tables, apply footnoting, create table of contents and mail merge techniques.
• Obtain Vital Signs
• Practices Compassion: Exhibits genuine care for people and is available and ready to help; displays a deep awareness of and strong willingness to relieve the suffering of others.
• Promotes Health and Safety: Promotes a healthy and safe environment for patients, employees and visitors. Advocates and models healthy physical and mental health behaviors even in challenging circumstances. Sets high quality standards and strives for continuous improvement and quality assurance by reporting and encouraging others to report near misses and safety issues.
• Provides Patient-Centered Care: Demonstrates understanding of patient care quality and service as organizational priority. Proactively supports change to improve patient experience and results. Exhibits the ability and willingness to find out what the patient wants and needs and to act accordingly, taking the organizational and outside resources into account. Cooperates, collaborates, communicates, and integrates care within and between teams to ensure that care is continuous and reliable.
• Resolves Conflict: Promptly acts to find alternatives/solutions when team members disagree. Addresses issues in a direct, honest, and appropriate manner. Handles conflicting interests diplomatically and helps to solve them. Transforms difficult situations into teachable moments using respect and accountability .
• Serves Others: Strives to understand, meet and exceed the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers which may include the people and communities in our service areas. Develops and maintains relationships, alliances and coalitions within and outside the organization and leverages them in order to obtain information, support, and promote cooperation and collaboration.
• Utilizes Resources Effectively: Understands how to get the most out of available resources and uses cost-benefit thinking in decision-making and in setting priorities. Monitors and analyzes resource usage to identify and eliminate areas of waste and maximize resources. As a leader, defines targets and provides appropriate means; oversees progress and makes adjustments when necessary. Appropriately delegates work, sets clear direction and manages workflow and time.

Credentials

• Required Registered Nurse
• BLS Required
• Current Certification with PACE Requirements must be met.
• Unit Auditing and Education as Needed.

Education

• Required High School Diploma/General Educational Development (GED)* Must be actively working on BSN with completion in 18 months for EMMC. * Additional education and experience may be required according to work location.

Working Conditions

• Lifting, moving and loading 30 to 50 pounds.
• Alternate shift schedules (day, evening, nights, weekends).