JOB DESCRIPTION Med/Surg Staff Nurse
Job
Summary (Purpose the Position Exists): The RN is
responsible for assessing the needs of each patient on his/her team, planning
and implementing the care to meet those needs, interacting with team member and
reporting to supervisor as appropriate.
Education,
Training and Licenses Required: Current BLS and California
RN license required.
Experience
Required: Prefer one year
acute care experience.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
Required: Initiative
in organizing work and completing assignments.
Cooperates with staff to maintain well organized department. Professional decorum at all times. Willing to accept direction from
supervisor. Maintains tactful and
cheerful relationship with patients, visitors, and staff. Must speak, read, write, and comprehend English.
Must respect patient confidentiality.
Math knowledge including basic algebra and ability to adjust drug
dosages. Participates in inservice
education programs.
Equipment
Knowledge Required: Ability to learn function of machines
utilized in patient care, various
traction equipment and drainage tubes.
Ability to assist MD/RN with procedures.
Working
Conditions (Noise, Environmental, Demands, Shift, Setting, Human Interface,
etc.): Able to adapt to sudden changes and willing to care for all
types of patients regardless of age, ethnic background, religion, sexual
preference, educational or economic status.
Able to adapt to specific shift routine, i.e., sleep/wake pattern.
Confidentiality
Requirements: I understand that any and all
information regarding hospital, patient, and employment matters are disclosed
or learned by me in confidence. I agree
that during and after my term of employment, I will not directly or indirectly
disclose this information, other than to an authorized employee of Palm Drive
Hospital.
Safety
Requirements: Employees are responsible for all
aspects of the hospital safety and health program including compliance with
safety rules and regulations, remedying unsafe working conditions, and for
continuously practicing safety while performing duties.
Physical
Requirements: See “Description of Physical Demands”
binder in Human Resources.
Supervisory
Requirements (if applicable): This position
supervises a staff of 0 , including part time employees. I understand I will be reviewed on my
competence as a supervisor, including but not limited to communication skills,
delegation of tasks, prioritization of work, leadership, problem solving,
budgeting and reviewing of my staff's performance
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1.
Customer Service – Demonstrates effective verbal communication skills through
the following: ·
Telephone courtesy ·
Acknowledging patients, families, and
visitors as they present ·
Protecting privacy |
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2.
Self Development – ·
Attends a minimum of 60% of staff
meetings, inservices, and all mandatory education ·
Reads and initials meeting minutes of
any unattended meetings and is responsible for information disseminated at
meetings |
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3.
Communication – ·
Reads all unit bulletin boards and
communication books each week and initials information as appropriate ·
Maintains open communication style
with co-workers and supervisors |
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4.
Working Relations – ·
Copes effectively with stressful
situations ·
Maintains a professional atmosphere
with minimal personal input in areas likely to be observed by patients and
visitors |
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5.
Staffing – ·
Adheres to posted schedule and uses a
reliable mechanism to remain up to date with changes ·
Follows appropriate procedure for
scheduling requests |
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6.
Practices in compliance with California state law (Nurse Practice Act, Title
22). |
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7.
Delegates patient care and tasks to others consistent with their capabilities
and scope of practice. |
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8.
Identifies problems related to patient care and unit functioning and provides
alternative actions to resolve these problems; evaluates outcomes of action. |
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9.
Respiratory – ·
Assesses rate and quality of
respiratory status ·
Addresses abnormal findings ·
Determines need of supplemental
oxygen |
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10.
Cardiac – ·
Assesses rate and quality of pulses ·
Displays ability to attach patient to
telemetry unit ·
Documents telemetry report in nurses
notes ·
Recognizes fluid and electrolyte
imbalances ·
Monitors/replaces fluid and
electrolytes ·
Performs/assesses orthostatic BP
measurements |
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11.
Neurological – ·
Performs a neurological assessment
accurately |
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12.
Renal – ·
Identifies factors related to
decreased urine output ·
Assesses the volume and
characteristics of urine output |
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13.
GI – ·
Assesses for cough, gag and
swallowing problems ·
Initiates aspiration precautions ·
Monitors patients bowel functions |
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14.
Musculoskeletal – ·
Assesses circulation, sensation and
movement when indicated ·
Assesses skin condition ·
Initiates skin care protocol when
indicated |
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15.
Psychosocial – ·
Identifies patients psychosocial
support system relevant to age ·
Determines patients response to the
environment ·
Determines patients response to pain |
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16.
Initiates Plan of Care – ·
Documents plan of care within eight
hours of admission ·
Uses admission assessment data and
medical plan of care ·
Individualizes plan of care ·
Includes patient, significant other,
and family in the plan of care ·
Prioritizes patient care activities |
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17.
Reviews – ·
Each active patient problem every 24
hours ·
New problems as they develop and
documents them on the plan of care ·
Documents problems as they are resolved |
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18.
Notifies dietitian when nutrition consult is indicated. |
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19.
Notifies social worker when indicated. |
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20.
Utilizes hospital forms according to established guidelines; documents
signature and title; signs or countersigns physician orders by the end of the
shift. |
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21.
Medications – ·
Documents medications given on the
appropriate form within time given. ·
Documents medications held or given
late. ·
Documents locations of I.M.
injections. |