
General Surgery, Orthopedics and Plastic Surgery
Registered Nurse, RN
Full-time, 3 x 12 hour with D/N and Weekend rotation
A 36-bed post-surgical unit that specializes in orthopedics, general surgery, and plastic surgery. We also have two negative pressure rooms that can accommodate patients who are being ruled out for tuberculosis or who have a diagnosis of active tuberculosis or shingles. In addition, we are the medicine overflow unit for patients with Cystic Fibrosis, so our population can be varied. You will see patients in varying stages of pre-and post-surgical care as well as medical co-morbidities.
The majority of our focus is orthopedics, so we have a great emphasis on getting people up, moving, and recovering from their injuries and operations. Many of our patients have unique psycho-social dispositions as well. Our unit is a great place to work because we pride ourselves on teamwork and a nurturing, friendly environment. We have implemented unit initiatives to improve safety, reliability, and team-based patient care. Working on L3WD will give you an experience with a 1:4 or 1:5 RN-to-patient ratio, a fast-paced environment, a variety of surgical conditions, and a unique patient population that allows one to build fundamental skills. Someone who is an energetic, strong team player, interested in caring for surgical patients in a busy, active setting, will find 3 West a very fulfilling place!
Utilizes the nursing process to assess, diagnose, identify outcomes, plan, implement and evaluate an individualized plan of care.
Utilizes critical thinking and the nursing process to anticipate and recognize changes in patient status, taking action to modify the plan of care or to elevate to the care team as necessary.
Practices in accordance with the ANA Code of Ethics to advocate for patients, uphold their autonomy in decision-making, ensure informed consent and assist patients in families in expressing self-determination.
Actively seeks feedback and acts to improve performance.
Manages interpersonal relationships for self and with others.
Mentors colleagues for the advancement of nursing practice and the profession.
Assumes authority and accountability for the nursing care of patients while appropriately delegating elements of care to others members of the care delivery team in accordance with laws, regulations and policies and procedures.
Prioritizes and organizes time to optimize patient outcomes.
Actively seeks out the most current evidence and standards and applies and translates to daily practice.
Role models a culture of inquiry, developing new knowledge by contributing to research, quality improvement, and evidence-based practice at the local level.
Communicates effectively in a variety of formats in all areas of practice.
Actively partners with others to effect change that produces positive outcomes through the exchange of knowledge.
Precepts the student nurse, nurse extern, nurse resident, experienced clinical nurse and other members of the healthcare team.
Performs other duties as required or assigned.

How can the lifestyle in New Hampshire and Vermont compliment your career? You can have amazing 4-season living with a career at one of the top health systems in the country. The Dartmouth-Hitchcock health system stretches over New Hampshire and Vermont and offers the quintessential New England experience. With no income or sales tax, this beautiful area combines history, industry and business and has been ranked consistently as one of the best places in the US to live and work. Anchored by the academic Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH, the system includes the NCI-designated Norris Cotton Cancer Center, the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock; 4 affiliated hospitals and 30 Dartmouth-Hitchcock ambulatory clinics across the region. We are close to the urban centers of Boston, New York and Montreal, but also offer proximity to the seacoast and multiple top-tier ski mountains within a short driving distance. Throughout New Hampshire, the opportunities – both career and personal – truly make our area the ideal place to work and play.
Dartmouth-Hitchcock is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.