1. The Registered Nurse – Float Pool provides direct nursing care to a wide variety of patients requiring continuous 24-hour medical and nursing treatment using a problem solving approach and in accordance with the standards, guidelines and scope of professional nursing practice to facilitate individualized nursing care to patients within Shenandoah Medical Center. The Registered Nurse – Float Pool will:

• Assess, plan implement, document and evaluate care to ensure a coordinated holistic approach which best meets the needs of the patient.
• Assist patients to achieve their optimum level of health in situations of normal health, illness injury or through the process of dying.
• Advocate the dignity and self-respect of patients.
• Promote the autonomy of patient and help them to express their health needs and values to obtain appropriative information and services.
• Safeguard the trust of patients that information learned in the context of a professional relationship is shared outside the health care team only with the patient’s permission or as legally required.
• Apply and promote principles of equity and fairness to assist patients in receiving unbiased treatment and a share of health services and resources proportionate to their needs.
• Act in a manner consistent with their professional code of ethics, responsibilities and standards of practice

2. The Registered Nurse – Float Pool facilitates, implements and modifies patient and family education/ teaching based on the needs of the patient. The Registered Nurse – Float Pool will:

• Use a holistic approach to facilitate individual learning of patients and their families upon admission and transfer or discharge in relation to patient illness or injury (i.e. self-care, health promotion, etc.)
• Assess the patient for physical and psychological needs, their knowledge of their health, disease process and learning needs.
• Research, develop, revise and evaluation an ongoing basis, educational resources necessary to support patients.
• Coordinate the admission and transfer or discharge of patients. This includes explaining and ensuring that the patient understands the admission or discharge plan established by the health care team for the patients care and treatment.

3. The Registered Nurse – Float Pool assumes accountability for the standard of care delivered toward determining and achieving patient care goals. The Registered Nurse – Float Pool will:

• Make decisions necessary to promote change and ultimate outcome of goal attainment.
• Communicate with other members of the health care team regarding the patient’s health care to provide continuity of care and promote collaborative efforts directed toward quality patient care.

4. The Registered Nurse – Float Pool advocates for practice environments to have the organizational and resource allocations necessary for safe, competent and ethical nursing care. The Registered Nurse – Float Pool will:

• Collaborate with nursing colleagues and other members of the health care team to advocate health care environments that are conducive to ethical practice and to the health and wellbeing of patients, clients and others in the setting.
• Orient new employees to unit specific programs.
• Participate in committees, task forces and research projects as related to the Float Pool.

5. Performs other duties as assigned.