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. He/she 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
- Participates in cost containment efforts through efficient use of supplies, services and time management.
- 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.
- Provides patient care before cardiac surgery.
- Assesses and monitors patients pre- and post stress test.
- Monitors electrocardiogram readings and notifies provider as appropriate.
- Keeps physician informed of any changes in the patient.
- Contacts physician with questions and concerns regarding patients' conditions.
- Complies with medical provider orders.
- Administers and monitors intravenous drips.
- Modifies patient plan of care based on patient responses.
- Discusses and educates patients on ways to maintain or improve current state of health, including cardiac health.
- Educates family and/or significant others on how to help the patient engage in healthy behavior post discharge from acute care.
- Helps patients with postoperative recovery process.
- Collaborates with health care team to provide safe patient care during emergency respiratory or cardiovascular episodes.
- Answers patient questions regarding health care issues including nutrition and exercise.
- 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 patient�s physiologic, psychologic, and cognitive status.
- 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.
- Respond appropriately to emergency situations within current scope of practice following American Heart Association Guidelines.
- Collaborates with medical providers and Advanced Practice Providers to provide high quality, evidenced based care.
- Assesses and monitors patients in the inpatient acute care setting.
- 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.
- Provides appropriate hand off communication when transferring care to another provider.
- Collaborates with nursing instructors and unit leaders to perform as a mentor and preceptor for nursing students, interns and new hires as appropriate.
- Updates electronic medical records per agency policy.
- Actively participates in quality management.
- 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.
- 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.
