JOB DESCRIPTION
The position description is a guide to the critical duties and essential functions of the job, not an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, qualifications, physical demands, and work environment conditions. Position descriptions are reviewed and revised to meet the changing needs of the organization.
TITLE: Registered Nurse
JOB OVERVIEW: The staff RN is a licensed professional who assumes responsibility and accountability for a group of patients for a designated time frame. This individual provides safe, quality care to these patients utilizing the nursing process as the basis for clinical practice.
DEPARTMENT: Any Patient Care Area
WORK HOURS: As assigned
REPORTS TO: Supervisor/Manager
PREREQUISITES:
BSN preferred.
Current licensure to practice as a registered nurse in the state of Washington.
Successful completion of a graduate nurse residency program orientation or six months' experience as a registered nurse.
AHA BLS for healthcare providers required.
Successful completion of the pre-hire WorkSteps evaluation for RNs.
Preferred for advancement to charge nurse role:
BSN
Certification
Experience-Two years' practice in clinical nursing/leadership in area of responsibility
Unit specific prerequisites-see addendum.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Demonstrates leadership skills with ability to lead and manage a team, utilize clinical judgment, clinical inquiry, innovation and systems thinking.
Able to communicate effectively in oral and written form in the English language.
Adheres to the dress code.
Demonstrates effective interpersonal skills that are community-centered, compassionate, and meets the needs of diverse and vulnerable populations.
Ability to communicate and work effectively with the physical and emotional development of all age groups.
Practices in a caring environment with excellent customer service skills.
Functions within ANA Standards and Nurse Practice Act.
Ability to access information and communicate in an electronic environment including but not limited to the use of order entry, e-mail, and computer documentation skills.
Self-directed in advancing professional practice through continuing education and research.
UNIQUE PHYSICAL/MENTAL DEMANDS, ENVIRONMENT AND WORKING CONDITIONS:
Must be able to provide safe patient handling as defined in VMC's Safe Patient Handling guidelines and policies to safely and appropriately transfer or move patients (or objects) of varying abilities, weights, and amounts of staff assistance. Must be able to lift from the floor to overhead levels and carry items at waist level weight up to 40 pounds. Requires ability to participate in team lifting. Must be able to operate patient lifting equipment and patient handling devices accurately and safely. Requires the ability to stoop, bend, reach, crouch, and squat. Requires standing and walking for extensive periods of time as required for patient care, moving patients or supplies to other units, hourly rounding, bedside shift report and other nursing duties. Requires full body range of motion including ability to reach from floor to overhead levels, manual and finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination. Requires corrected vision, hearing to normal range, and ability to distinguish colors.
PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:
A. Generic Functions: See Generic Job Description for Clinical Partner.
B. Essential Responsibilities and Competencies:
Assesses, guides, directs, and facilitates workflow on the unit. Recognizes when it is necessary for the charge nurse to assume a patient assignment and assumes that role.
Make staff assignments that reflect patient acuity, continuity of patient care, staff competency and the necessity of admit, transfer and discharge activity inherent on all clinical units.
Mentors staff, float, and agency personnel regarding unit/department/hospital policies, procedures/standards and annual goals and objectives.
Integrates new staff and agency staff into the culture of the unit.
Functions as a leader and role model for clinical staff.
Acts as clinical resource to unit staff. Demonstrates safe use of patient care equipment and can teach others to use equipment safely.
Identifies resource RN for LPN, PCA, and MST as necessary.
Monitors and evaluates nursing care given to each patient, by direct observation, consultation, and patient rounds.
Assesses unit/environmental safety during patient rounds and reports/corrects deficiencies.
Maintains awareness of Joint Commission standards, state codes, and practice acts. Routinely monitors documentation, compliance with standards, and facilitates rapid turn-around cycles.
Demonstrates excellent customer service skills.
Responds to patient and family concerns/complaints.
Reports significant events (patient/staff/physician/visitor) to administrative supervisors/manager and activates the chain of command per policy.
Provides input into performance appraisal of clinical staff on assigned shift by documenting feedback and/or communicating concerns to manager/supervisor.
Evaluates and provides adequate coverage for breaks.
Maintains fiscal responsibility by monitoring and adjusting staffing during shift and determines staffing needs for the following shift by utilizing sound clinical judgment.
Accepts personal responsibility to maintain competencies for direct patient care and team leadership.
Communicates and collaborates with bed placement and the clinical resource to ensure clinical placement is expedited.
PARTMENT OF PATIENT CARE SERVICES
CLINICAL PARTNER-REGISTERED NURSE
Originated 4/15/98
Revised 7/2009, 12/2009, 1/2010, 9/2010, 11/2012, 4/2013, 10/2015, 5/2021, 8/2021
CLINICAL PARTNER ADDENDUM - Registered Nurse
Unit Specific Requirements
Emergency Department RN
ACLS within the first 90 days of hire
PALS within 6 months from the date of hire
TNCC within one year from the date of hire
One year of experience in Emergency nursing preferred or successful completion of ED residency
Emergency Department Resident
ACLS within the first 90 days of hire
PALS within 6 months from the date of hire
TNCC one year from the date of hire
Licensed Registered Nurse
Chest Pain Evaluation Unit
ACLS within 3 months of hire
One year of experience in medical-surgical; telemetry experience preferred
Post Anesthesia Recovery
ACLS, PALS within 3 months of hire
Current PACU or ICU experience
Endoscopy
ACLS within 3 months of hire
Six months of previous experience in endoscopy
Day Surgery
ACLS and PALS within 3 months of hire
Six months of previous experience in surgery
Surgical Admissions and Discharge
ACLS and PALS within 3 months of hire
One year of experience as registered nurse or previous experience in a surgery admissions and discharge area
Main OR Perioperative
Successful completion of OR nurse residency or 1 year minimum previous OR experience
Main OR resident
Licensed RN
Critical Care/PCU Med-Surg RN
ACLS Within 3 months of hire
Minimum of one year of experience in Emergency/Critical Care nursing required
Critical Care/PCU Med-Surg Resident
ACLS within 6 months of hire
Licensed registered nurse
LDR
NRP within 3 months of hire
ACLS within 6 months of hire
Six months of labor and delivery experience as a registered nurse or successful completion of residency
LDR resident
NRP within 6 months of hire
ACLS within 6 months of hire
Licensed registered nurse
Mother Baby
NRP within 3 months of hire
Six months of mother baby experience as a registered nurse or successful completion of residency
Mother Baby Resident
NRP within 6 months of hire
Licensed registered nurse
Medical-Surgical
3 months of RN experience or successful completion of a residency program
Medical-Surgical Float Pool
ECG within 3 months of hire
Medical-Surgical Neurology/Stroke Unit
ECG interpretation competency within 3 months of hire
NIHSS certification within 3 months of hire
8 hours of Neuro education within 12 months of hire and annually thereafter
Medical-Surgical or Oncology Resident
Licensed RN with less than 3 months of experience in acute care
Surgical Joint/Spine
Minimum of one year medical-surgical experience preferred
Orthopedic certification within 3 years
Oncology RN
Successful completion of The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Oncology Fundamentals Course
Successful completion of The ONS Chemotherapy Biotherapy Course and VMC clinical chemotherapy competencies
Oncology Certification (OCN) for all RNs who administer chemotherapy within two years of hire
Neonatal Intensive Care RN
NRP within 3 months of hire
Six months' Level III NICU experience or successful completion of a NICU residency program
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit RN Resident
NRP within 6 months of hire.
Licensed RN with less than 6 months of Level III NICU experience
Pediatric RN
PALS within 3 months
Six months of experience in Pediatric nursing
Pediatric Resident
PALS within 6 months of hire
Licensed RN with less than 6 months of Pediatric nursing experience
IRCU RN
ACLS within 3 months of hire
One year of experience in Emergency.
Experience in Critical Care or Radiology, preferred.
Clinical Administrative Resource (CAR)
ACLS and PALS within 3 months of hire.
Minimum of one, but prefer two, years of experience in Critical Care, PACU, or Emergency Services
Maternal Child Float Pool
NRP and PALS within 3 months of hire
Minimum 1 year of experience in mother baby, level 2 NICU including CPAP, or pediatric nursing care
Must be competent to perform patient assignments in mother baby care, pediatrics, and level 2 NICU including CPAP within 6 months of hire
Electrophysiology
Two years of EP Lab experience
Registered Cardiac Electrophysiology Specialist or acquired within twelve months of hire
PREREQUISITES:
BSN preferred.
Current licensure to practice as a registered nurse in the state of Washington.
Successful completion of a graduate nurse residency program orientation or six months' experience as a registered nurse.
AHA BLS for healthcare providers required.
Successful completion of the pre-hire WorkSteps evaluation for RNs.
Preferred for advancement to charge nurse role:
BSN
Certification
Experience-Two years' practice in clinical nursing/leadership in area of responsibility
Unit specific prerequisites-see addendum.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Demonstrates leadership skills with ability to lead and manage a team, utilize clinical judgment, clinical inquiry, innovation and systems thinking.
Able to communicate effectively in oral and written form in the English language.
Adheres to the dress code.
Demonstrates effective interpersonal skills that are community-centered, compassionate, and meets the needs of diverse and vulnerable populations.
Ability to communicate and work effectively with the physical and emotional development of all age groups.
Practices in a caring environment with excellent customer service skills.
Functions within ANA Standards and Nurse Practice Act.
Ability to access information and communicate in an electronic environment including but not limited to the use of order entry, e-mail, and computer documentation skills.
Self-directed in advancing professional practice through continuing education and research