Overview
The role of the Registered Nurse includes leadership, direction and feedback to care team members, assessment, collaboration and coordination regarding plan of care, patient and family education, pain management, patient safety, and planning for patient discharge. This position will assist the patient to move safely and effectively through their hospital stay.
Demonstrates excellent customer service performance in that his/her attitude and actions are at all times consistent with the standards contained in the Vision, Mission and Values of Covenant HealthCare and the commitment to Extraordinary Care for Every Generation.
Responsibilities
- Supports the organizations patient flow efforts through compliance to unit and Patient Services policies.
- Remains flexible in cooperation with 24-hour staffing patterns and scheduling needs for provision of care in all inpatient units.
- Communicates with patients and families in a professional, therapeutic, and courteous manner.
- Has clinical and social contact with patients, including all age groups, and is able to appropriately assess, care for and treat them according to the guidelines as defined by Covenant HealthCare.
- Performs assessment and synthesizes data collected by self and others in an ongoing and systematic manner, focusing on the patients physiologic, psychologic, and cognitive status.
- Formulates and coordinates a goal directed plan of care which is prioritized and based on determined nursing diagnoses and identified patient care concerns.
- Delegates, supervises and implements care in a knowledgeable, skillful, consistent and continuous manner by utilization of and adherence to standards which define the process.
- Collaborates effectively with all health care disciplines to facilitate patient outcomes, assess readiness for discharge and anticipate discharge needs.
- Identifies patient learning needs and their ability to follow through, including discharge instructions, while implementing appropriate measures to meet these needs.
- Exhibits nursing judgement and critical thinking abilities within the framework of the nursing process.
- Administers medications as outlined by Patient Service guidelines and policies.
- Documents all patient care observations and interventions in the electronic record accurately, clearly, in a timely manner following all established policies.
- Actively participates in quality management.
- Updates and maintains knowledge, skills and competencies related to area of practice and ages of patient population.
- Demonstrates awareness of legal issues in all aspects of patient care and unit function.
- Maintains patient rights and confidentiality, and actively supports risk management activities.
- Participates in patient care and unit activities to achieve compliance with all regulatory, patient safety, infection control, and safety requirements.
- Participates in unit meetings and activities which support unit function and the overall goals of the organization.
- Treats patients who suffer from conditions that affect their pulmonary systems.
- Provide care to acutely ill patients with Covid-19.
- Care for patients with stable tracheostomies.
- Educates patients on ways to prevent pulmonary disease.
- Educates family on how to help the patient engage in healthy behavior at home.
- Updates electronic medical records.
- Answers patient questions regarding nutrition and exercise.
- Helps patients with pulmonary rehabilitation.
- Handles emergency respiratory episodes.
- Provides patient care before and after respiratory treatments and procedures.
- Be knowledgeable about machinery that aids in the care of the pulmonary patient such as nasal cannulas, ventimasks, BIPAP, CPAP and High Flow oxygen.
- Keeps physician informed of any changes in the patient.
- Starts and checks intravenous drips.
- Modifies patient treatments based on patient responses.
- Contacts physicians with questions and concerns regarding patients conditions.
- Carries out pulmonologist and all physician orders.
- Operates defibrillators in the event of an emergency.
- Works under the supervision of a pulmonologist which is a physician that specializes in care of the lungs.
- Takes continuing education courses to stay up-to-date on new techniques, technologies and medications.
- Stays in compliance with patient privacy laws.
- Informs nurses on other shifts about any extenuating circumstances involving patients.
- Instructs nursing students and interns.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE Graduation from NLN accredited school of nursing.
- Registered Nurse with current licensure in the State of Michigan.
- BLS certification required.
- Attends unit conferences, in-service programs and continuing education activities to meet the organization’s expectations.
- Minimum of one year of acute care nursing experience preferred.
- KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES Computer competency, including Microsoft Office and Outlook.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Must be able to work well with the public and able to be tactful in often hectic and stressful situations.
- Clinical nursing skills.
- Sound judgement in handling confidential or sensitive issues and material.
- WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards.
- Constant standing and walking.
- Frequent lifting up to 25 lbs.
- Frequent sitting, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, twisting, reaching, handling, feeling, talking, hearing, near vision, midrange vision, far vision, depth perception, visual accommodation, color vision and field of vision.
- Occasional lifting up to 100 lbs.
- Occasional climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and squatting.
