Registered Nurse/Medical Surgical

Shift: Day 3×12-Hour (07:00 – 19:30)

Description:

MS RN Needed for Medical Surgical/ Orthopedics Department:

Shift: 3/12s – 700-1930
Certification Requirements: BLS
Weekend Requirements: every other week
Any On Call? No

Floating: May float to other units within scope of practice Depending on need/census, may float to Hawthorne or Herrick Campus The expectation is for all travel nurses to be flexible with floating to different campuses or within the hospital. Travelers can anticipate a notice of 1.5hrs prior to shift start time in most cases. There is a shuttle provided if floating is requested.

Job Duties:
“Applying the principles of the nursing process and working within the policies/procedures of the Patient Care Services Department and the Medical Center, the staff nurse is a registered nurse (RN) who, as the patient’s primary nurse, is responsible and accountable for:
* The overall management of the nursing care provided, assuring competent, compassionate and cost-effective patient care from admission to discharge;
* Assuring the safety, comfort, personal hygiene and protection of patients and performing disease prevention and restorative measures;
* Responding to medical and environmental emergencies”

JOB ACCOUNTABILITIES:
• Provides competent, compassionate and cost effective patient care in accordance with unit, department, hospital policies, scientific principles, sound nursing practice/process, nursing objectives and standards of care:
o Plans/coordinates delivery of care to maximize efficient care delivery ensuring the safety, comfort, personal hygiene and protection of patients and maintaining a safe environment
o Sets priorities for and provides patient care in routine and complex situations
o Serves as liaison between nursing and medical staff to facilitate collaborative approach to patient care
o Coordinates involvement of patient, physician, family and other health team members to manage patient care, hospital resources and services to achieve optimal level of patient care
o Sets priorities, initiates and directs emergency interventions in a calm, efficient and competent manner
• Exercises clinical judgment and critical thinking in all aspects of the nursing process and unit activities; develops creative solutions to problems:
o Administers treatments, medications and performs nursing skills in a timely manner
o Maintains current knowledge of patient care status and monitors patient’s perception of care through clinical rounds
o Assures physicians are informed of significant changes in patient’s condition
o Analyzes, inputs and integrates the patient acuity levels in accurate and timely manner
o Demonstrates knowledge and ability to effectively interact with patient population served
Assessment
• Conducts initial and ongoing assessment of the patient/family including consideration of biophysical, psychosocial, spiritual, environmental, self-care, educational and discharge planning factors:
o Completes nursing assessment (coordinates completion of other required screening assessments) within 24 hours of admission
o Ensures nursing process is carried out on an individualized goal-directed basis to meet all patient needs including patient assessment (including pain, age-appropriate factors), patient care plans, patient/family education, discharge planning, disease prevention and restorative measures
o Observes patient’s physical condition and behavior, interprets information and ensures patient’s acuity levels are identified/documented
o Identifies, observes and monitors patients at risk for untoward events and implements precautions/activities to reduce the risk and avoid events
• Evaluates/re-evaluates, through observation and communication, the effectiveness of plan of care
o Modifies the plan, as appropriate, in collaboration with patient/family, physician and other disciplines

Planing
• Develops the patient’s plan of care as it relates to biophysical, psychosocial, environmental , self-care, educational and discharge needs in collaboration with patient and family, physician and other disciplines:
o Develops/implements plan of care and timely interventions based on patient/family interview, observation, chart review and consultation with other health team members
o Documents/communicates patient assessment, plan of care, outcomes and other pertinent information with other health team members
• Evaluates/re-evaluates, through observation and communication, the effectiveness/outcomes of the patient’s care plan in collaboration with patient/family, physician and other disciplines:
o Modifies plan, communicates and initiates follow-up activities as appropriate
Education/Teaching
• Develops, implements, documents formal teaching and discharge planning that includes the patient/family/significant other in care for identified health needs
• Explains treatments/activities to patient/family/significant other
• Communicates with patient and family in a clear, open end collaborative manner showing care and concer
Delegation/coordination/supervision of team
• Delegates tasks appropriately/effectively to team members based on legal scopes of practice, licensure, educational preparation, appropriate guidelines and individual capability:
o Clarifies role responsibilities and expectations; provides clinical performance coaching and counseling as needed
o Directs, oversees and evaluates the care delegated to other patient care team members
• Coordinates, facilitates/fosters communication among departments to ensure smooth, efficient coordination of patient care:
o Facilitates conflict resolution and follow-up with patients, families, physicians, team members and other disciplines
o Collaborates with physicians and other disciplines to manage patient care, hospital resources and services
o Functions as a team member and assumes delegated responsibilities that contribute to team, unit, department and hospital objectives
• Supervises and clinically directs the work of other care partners including job orientation/training, assignments:
o Provides clinical input to management as needed
o Participates in clinical staff performance evaluations
o Assists with department orientation and continuing education of staff
Patient Advocacy
• Serves as patient advocate to ensure physical, psychological, psychosocial and spiritual needs of the patient and family are met
• Conducts multi disciplinary rounds and care conferences
• Initiates actions to improve health care or changes decisions/activities which are against the patient’s wishes
Role Model
• Acts as role model and clinical resource to students, staff
• Provides orientation/mentoring to new employees, students and temporary agency/registry personnel
Professional development
• Identifies own performance goals and takes action to meet these goals
• Provides input related to staff development programs based upon identified learning needs, changes in nursing departmental practices and regulatory/accreditation requirements
• Actively participates in and/or chairs professional committees
Other Functions & Duties
• Assesses and supports the development of unit/team goals and other professional issues; lends and/or actively participates in team staff meetings
• Participates in the development and implementation of policies and practices, standardized procedures, protocols relevant to the department and Medical Center’s needs
• Contributes to and actively participates in the quality assurance and quality improvement processes per JCAHO and/or regulatory agencies
• Actively participates in and/or chairs professional committees
• All other duties as needed or assigned

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:
Demonstrates working knowledge of patient care techniques, medications, treatments and general health care procedures
Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work in fast-paced environment with changing priorities.
Ability to:
• provide basic patient care to a diverse patient population
• read/interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures or governmental regulations
• write legibly and effectively present ideas, document activities
• demonstrate leadership abilities
• deal with problems involving several variables in situations where only limited standardization exists