Overview

The Registered Professional Nurse is responsible and accountable for prescribing, delegating and coordinating all nursing care as defined by The New York State Nursing Practice Act. Comprehensive Medical/Surgical nursing care focuses on helping each patient to achieve their optimum health potential. This is achieved within the framework of the nursing process. The Medical/Surgical Registered Professional Nurse is responsible and renders services to Adult Medical/Surgical patients ranging from 18 years and older.

Responsibilities

In accordance with professional nursing standards and practices, the Medical/Surgical nurse will provide nursing care to all patients with medical and surgical diagnoses.

The Medical/Surgical Nurse is responsible and accountable for the nursing care of the patients.

Assessment:

• Assesses patient’s physical, social and behavioral, mental status through direct observation, interview, and medical record review.
• Utilizes observational skills to assess patient’s needs.
• Documents a nursing assessment to include psychosocial, environmental factors, educational level and needs.
• Obtains and reviews available data base and any data collected by other members of the health team (medical/surgical/other history, physical exam mental status, therapist reports and community referrals).
• Identifies medical problems resulting from mental illness and use of medications.
• Communicates findings with other members of the health team. (Social Worker, Case managers, therapist, physician).

Planning

• Identifies and addresses needs for admission based on acute medical/surgical diagnoses and presenting physical/psychological symptoms
• Identifies and addresses patient level of education, learning needs.
• Makes appropriate referral to other disciplines and documents same.

Intervention/Implementation:

• Management of clinical skills in the provision of nursing care and management of the patient including but not limited to:
  • Identification of symptoms
  • Management of the disease entity
  • Treatment modalities
  • Administration of medications
• Intervenes appropriately in medical/surgical emergencies utilizing non-violent crisis intervention.
• Utilizes infection control procedures; collaborates with the infection control department in preventing and controlling infection control.
• Practices infection control: personal hygiene; hand washing; and dress code
• Provides for psychosocial and educational needs of all medical/surgical patients.
• Provides health teaching and medication instructions.
• Ensures that all procedures are performed based on established standards of care
• Demonstrates competency in performing all procedures within the scope of practice and in accordance with Interfaith Medical Center.
• Investigates and communicates all required information regarding unusual occurrences or patient care incidents.
• Acts as a patient advocate.

Evaluation:

• Revises the patient’s plan of care based on evaluation of the interventions and expected outcomes in collaboration with other members of the health care team.

Qualifications

Education:

• Associate degree in nursing required and bachelor’s degree in nursing preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum three (3) years' medical-surgical nursing experience preferred.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Ability to communicate effectively in English both verbally and in writing

Licenses, Certifications:

• Current NY State RN License required.
• Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) required.

Physical Requirements:

• Involves standing, walking, sitting, talking, hearing and bending.
• May include some repetitive motions.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position without compromising patient care.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees, and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of Interfaith Medical Center (IMC).

IMC is an equal opportunity employer, it is our policy to provide equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, military status, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability or handicap or other characteristics protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.