JOB SUMMARYPromotes and restores patients' health by completing the nursing process; collaborating with physicians and intermultidisciplinary team members; providing physical and psychological support to patients, friends, and families; delegate and evaluate care assigned to LPNs and CNAs to meet patient care needs.ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONSIDENTIFIES PATIENT CARE REQUIREMENTSBy establishing personal rapport with potential and actual patients and other persons in a position to understand care requirements.Uses the nursing process as a framework to deliver care by establishing or contributing to a plan of care with the patient including a teaching plan, within 24 hours of admissionestablishing or contributing to prioritization of goals appropriate to the patient’s age and ability to learnestimated length of stay, medical diagnoses and discharge planIdentifying nursing care needs, writing nursing interventions and identifying educational objectives appropriate to care standardsby reassessing and documenting the effectiveness of nursing actions and the patients progress toward goals as the patient’s condition changesby communicating the plan and patient progress to the interdisciplinary teamdelegating the plan of care to other licensed and unlicensed associates within their scope of practice.ESTABLISHES A COMPASSIONATE ENVIRONMENTBy providing emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to patients, friends, and families.PROMOTES PATIENT'S INDEPENDENCEBy establishing patient care goalseducating patient, friends, and family to understand condition, medications, and self-care skillsanswering questions by applying rehabilitation principles to patients servedby demonstrating competence in providing age specific care to pediatric patients, adult patients and geriatric patients.ASSURES QUALITY OF CAREBy adhering to therapeutic standardsmeasuring health outcomes against patient care goals and standardsmaking or recommending necessary adjustmentsfollowing hospital and nursing division's philosophies and standards of care set by state board of nursing, State Nurse Practice Act, and other governing agency regulationsby participating in performance improvement activitiesby directing and assessing care provided to assigned patients by LPNs, Nursing Assistants, agency personnel, students and other associates.RESOLVES PATIENT PROBLEMS AND NEEDSBy utilizing multidisciplinary team strategiesby utilizing established communication methods to ensure resolution of patient problems and needsby communicating patient status to the interdisciplinary team.DOCUMENTS PATIENT CARE SERVICESBy documenting delivery of services, changes in the patient’s condition and the patient’s response to nursing interventions in the medical record according to policies and procedures.MAINTAINS PATIENT CONFIDENCE AND ORGANIZATIONAL CONFIDENTIALITYBy keeping information confidential.MAINTAINS SAFE AND CLEAN WORKING ENVIRONMENTBy complying with procedures, rules, and regulationscalling for assistance from health care support personnelby maintaining a clean and safe unit environmentkeeping patient rooms, supply rooms and hallways free from clutterby complying with procedures, rules and regulationsby adhering to infection control policies and procedures, medication administration and storage procedures and controlled substance regulations.By maintaining compliance with professional, regulatory and governmental standards of care.By demonstrating knowledge of responsibilities in an emergency situation (i.e., code blue, Dr. Wintergreen, etc.).ENSURES OPERATION OF EQUIPMENTBy following manufacturer's instructionstroubleshooting malfunctionsentering work orders for equipment repairsevaluating new equipment and techniques.DEMONSTRATES FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITYBy checking stock to determine inventory levelanticipating needed suppliesusing equipment/supplies as needed to accomplish job resultsBy minimizing overtime by work prioritization and delegationrecognizes and complies with RN’s role in reimbursement for patient care services.By identifying and providing input to Nurse Managers on work methods that reduce the cost and/or time required to deliver patient care.By maintaining awareness of unit budget.MAINTAINS PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGEBy identifying personal educational needs and opportunitiesattending educational workshopscompleting mandatory educational requirementsreviewing professional publicationsestablishing personal networksparticipating in professional organizationssharing new knowledge with teamsattending unit meetingsreading unit memosparticipating in committees, projects and PI activities.By maintaining responsibility for own professional development through active participation in in-services and/or continuing education programs.MAINTAINS A COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP AMONG HEALTH CARE TEAMSBy communicating informationresponding to requestsbuilding rapportparticipating in team problem-solving methodsby communicating patient care or team issues to the nurse manager or supervisorholding each team member accountable for patient and team outcomesparticipate in team meetingsoffering suggestions for improvement to the program directorutilizing the chain of command to present issues or concernsdemonstrate positive conflict resolution skills with all associatestreat all associates with dignity and respect.CONTRIBUTES TO ORGANIZATIONAL TEAM EFFORTBy arriving on duty as scheduled, maintaining attendance, punching in and out as per Good Shepherd policy and maintaining etime sheet.By demonstrating flexibility in response to change by offering to assist team members with patient care needs and unit activities that arise throughout the shiftparticipating in orienting new employeesmeeting dress code requirements.By attending meetings as requested by organizational leadersby positively representing the profession and organization at work and away from workpromoting and participating in organizational goals.By mentoring channels of communication among nursing shifts, disciplines, departments, and external customers.By utilizing multidisciplinary team strategies, to assure resolution of patient problems and needs.QUALIFICATIONSTo perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.EducationAssociate's Degree in Nursing or Nursing Diploma requiredBachelor's Degree in Nursing preferredWork ExperiencePrior med-surg experience or rehabilitation experience preferredLicenses / CertificationsRegistered Nurse license requiredBasic Life Support / CPR, as a healthcare provider, per the American Heart Association requiredCertification in Rehabilitation Nursing preferred (must be acquired with 3 years of employment)
