RN- Med Surg Peds-Nights

POSITION SUMMARY:

Provides nursing care to medical, telemetry, surgical, pediatric, swing bed, hospice and observation patients. Adheres to hospital and departmental policies. Requires a positive individual who is flexible, with excellent clinical and customer service skills, has an ability to work well within a team; exhibits excellent communication skills, as well as having a commitment to teamwork and team problem solving in a solution-oriented manner. Must have excellent critical thinking skills as well as the ability to handle multiple issues and prioritize effectively. Supports the goals of Boone County Hospital. Administers nursing care to patients in an efficient, safe, and courteous manner using proper nursing procedures. The staff member must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide appropriate care to the various age groups of the patients served on his or her assigned unit. The individual must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status, and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements, relative to his or her age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the unit's/area's/department's policies and procedures.

AGES SPECIFIC TO Med/Surg/Peds/Swing:

Infant 1 month - 1 year Adolescent/Teenager 13 years - 17 years

Toddler 2 years - 3 years Young Adult 18 years - 34 years

Preschool 4 years - 5 years Middle Adult 35 years - 50 years

School Age 6 years - 12 years Mature Adult 51 years - 69 years

Geriatric Adult70 years

BEHAVIORAL REQUIREMENTS:

Boone County Hospital has developed standards for behavior expectations of all employees. Please refer to the Boone County Hospital Standards of Behavior.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in the classification. Shown are duties intended to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities. Staff may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

Completes a head-to-toe physical assessment and a social assessment of the patient upon admission.

Performs delivery of nursing care via the nursing process: Assessment (collection of data), problem identification (nursing diagnosis), planning, nursing interventions and evaluation and updating of planning.

Practices within Nursing Standards of Practice and follow standards of patient care & BCH Policies and Procedures.

Assists patient, physician and peers in determining long and short-range goals for patient and formulating a plan to work toward those goals.

Initiates a patient plan of care on admission and revises it, as needed, based on patient care standards.

Carries out medical and nursing treatment in a timely and accurate manner.

Reassesses the patient to identify progress and trends that require intervention and/ or reporting to the physician.

Operates and manages a variety of medical equipment.

Administer medications, calculates doses and maintains current knowledge of medications.

Assesses the patient's learning needs. Educates the patient and family.

Treat patients and their families with respect and dignity.

Assists with telemetry monitoring and maintains knowledge of basic arrhythmia interpretation. (ACLS qualified personnel).

Supervises and resources LPN's and non-professional staff in delivery of care to assigned patients.

Assures that consents are obtained when needed and that all records are signed and legally complete.

Completes incident and variance forms when appropriate.

Assists physicians in care of the patients. Makes rounds, assists with procedures, provides progress reports on patient statuses, and assures that orders are carried out.

Assumes professional responsibility for assuring patient care is of the highest standards possible.

Communicates questions about appropriateness of medical or nursing care through the chain of command, as needed.

Works with other departments in coordinating smooth transfer of patients for procedures or diagnostic test.

Performs other duties as assigned.

SECONDARY FUNCTIONS:

Adheres to the visitor and nonsmoking policies.

Participate in chart review. Collects data for QI.

Attends/completes mandatory yearly education day, monthly mandatory staff meetings, hospital based continuing and mandatory inservice.

Enhances professional growth by attending educational opportunities pertaining to Medical/Surgical/Pediatric nursing.

Maintains BLS and ACLS every two years. Encouraged to attain PALS and NRP.

Participates in orientation of new MSP staff. Provides nursing and CNA students with opportunities to observe and learn.

Floats to other units to take assignments as requested and as per qualifications.

Perform other related duties as assigned or requested.

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

EDUCATION: Graduate of an accredited school of nursing with current Iowa Registered Nurse license--must be in good standing.

EXPERIENCE: Nursing experience preferred, one year of clinical nursing in a hospital medical or surgical unit or a combined medical/surgical unit. New graduates are welcome.

SKILLS: Knowledge of medical, surgical, nursing principles and the nursing process. Performs effectively in stressful situations. Uses effective communication skills. Ability to define problems collects data, establishes facts, and draws appropriate conclusions. Adaptable to changing work schedule, patient needs and environments.

COMMUNICATION/TEAMWORK: Position requires a positive individual who is flexible with excellent clinical and customer service skills; has an ability to work well within a team; exhibits excellent communication skills, as well as having a commitment to teamwork and team problem-solving in a solution-oriented manner.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Valid and in good standing Iowa RN license or compact licensure; BCLS, ACLS, (PALS and NRP recommended but not required).

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY REQUIREMENTS:

Please refer to Attachment A: Functional Job Description

EQUIPMENT/TOOLS:

Operates office equipment and medical equipment.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Clean, well lit, heated and air-conditioned area. Exposure to unpleasant sights, smells and infectious diseases, blood, and body fluids, and occasionally to radiation. Work schedule is 12 hours shifts 7 am to 7:30 pm and 7 pm to 7:30 am. Full time is 60-72 hours every two weeks. Overtime dependent upon needs of department. Hours may vary depending on departmental staffing needs.

Holiday and weekend work is required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Vision must be correctable to view computer screens and read printed information. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Hearing must be in the normal range for telephone contacts and other conversations.

ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE:

Employee performs within the prescribed limits of the hospitals/departments Ethics and Compliance Program. Is responsible to detect, observe and report compliance variances to their immediate supervisor, or upward through the chain of command, the Compliance officer or hospital hotline.

CULTURE/RELIGIOUS ASPECTS:

Employee will care for patients of all cultural and religious backgrounds. Ability to care for patients of diverse cultural and/or religious backgrounds.

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for this job. It is not intended to be a complete statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements.