Job Description

Registered Nurse – Supervises and coordinates patient care for observation, outpatient, acute, skilled swingbed, emergency department, postpartum, antepartum, intrapartum, and newborn patients. Duties include assessments, medication administration, treatment, & documentation. Skills included, but not limited to vital signs, IVs, central lines, dressing changes, ostomy care, tracheostomy care, drain care, foley care, skin care and wound prevention, fetal heart monitor interpretation, cardiac heart monitor interpretation, labor management, assisting with delivery of the newborn, neonatal resuscitation and newborn care, postpartum maternal management, and care of the emergency department patient. Coordinates plan of care for assigned patients in conjunction with providers and charge nurse. Implements and evaluates interventions to promote healing in patients. Serves as a team player in all areas of the nursing department and represents a positive role model for associates, patients, and families. Uses good communication, customer service skills and uses professional judgment and critical thinking when performing RN duties.

Purpose of Position: To provide quality nursing care, with a positive professional attitude, to patients according to established policy and procedures.

Mission of Department: The nursing department at Scott County Hospital is dedicated to providing care that promotes the physical, spiritual, emotional and mental wellbeing of the people we serve. Nursing associates are expected to support the mission by exemplifying teamwork as the core of how we work honesty and loyalty to one another and the organization patients at the center of all we do and pride in a job well done.

Essential Functions

1. Assesses patient physical, psychological, social, spiritual, educational, developmental, cultural and discharge planning needs using the Nursing Process. Reviews patient history and physical with patient/family and assures completion within appropriate time frame. Reviews available information obtained by other health care team members. Reviews diagnostics and laboratory data and reports abnormal results to providers. Completes assessments and reassessments according to patient need and as outlined in policy.
2. Formulates a plan of care, including the discharge plan, utilizing assessment data and patient, family and healthcare team input. Initiates a plan of care based on patient-specific needs, assessment data and the medical plan of care. Goals for patient are realistic, measurable and developed in conjunction with the patient/family. Considers the physical, cultural, psychosocial, spiritual, age specific and education needs of the patient in the plan of care. Plans care in collaboration with members of the multidisciplinary team. Reviews and revises the plan of care to reflect changing patient needs based on evaluation of the patient's status.
3. Implements plan of care through direct patient care, coordination, delegation and supervision of the activities of the healthcare team. Provides care based on provider orders and the nursing plan of care, in compliance with policies and procedures, standards of care, and regulatory agency requirements. Delegates appropriately and provides nursing supervision in the provision of care to patients by other licensed nurses and other personnel. Promotes continuity of care by accurately and completely communicating to other caregivers the status of patients for whom care is provided.
4. Evaluates the patient’s and family’s response to care and revises the plan of care as needed. Evaluates patient’s progress towards goals and expected outcomes in collaboration with other healthcare team members. Evaluates patient’s response and the effectiveness of patient teaching.
5. Documents assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation in the patient record. Documentation is legible, timely and in accordance with policy. Documentation reflects objective/subjective data, nursing interventions and patients' response to treatment. Implements provider orders accurately and in a timely manner.
6. Contributes to nursing professionalism by providing care based on the best evidence available and may participate in research activities within clinical practice. Interacts and participates in the education, role development, and orientation of facility personnel, patients, students, families and visitors. Promotes/supports growth of others through precepting and mentoring when appropriate. Participates in clinical practice committees such as peer review, development of system within hospital and department, risk management, etc. Attends departmental meeting.

The preceding functions have been provided as examples of the types of work performed by employees assigned in this job classification. Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind work assignments and to make reasonable accommodations as needed. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skills and /or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Requirements

Customer Service Skills: Associate has the ability to establish and maintain effective positive and professional working relationships with patients, families, healthcare team, co-workers and the public. Expresses alternative points of view while respecting others’ opinions in a fast paced environment. Works and communicates effectively and respectfully with persons of various mulicultural and socioeconomic backgrounds and educational levels. Deals understandingly and tactfully with patients, families, healthcare team, co-workers and the public.

Teamwork: Associate provides, empowers and fosters a team working environment by communicating effectively with others and providing support to others/departments.

Corporate Compliance: Associate must participate in educational programs regarding Code of Conduct, HIPAA Privacy and Security regulations and must comply with principles, standards and policies pertaining to confidentiality, the code of Conduct and HIPAA.

Ethics: Associate must adhere to strong ethical guidance in all decisions and take ethical actions on behalf of others by providing services with respect to human dignity, age and culture specific needs. Associates must demonstrate ethical actions in the working environment and deliver care without bias based on personal attributes, nature of the disease, gender, race, creed, religion, or socioeconomic status.

Safety and Emergency Management Associate follows all safety and emergency management policies and procedures, maintains familiarity with all relevant policies and procedures, and assists in the education/training of others regarding their roles and required actions.

Education/In-services: Associate keeps abreast of new developments in field/department, participates in continuing education/in-services as required, and serves as technical resource for providers, staff, students or other pertinent individuals. Associate regularly checks company provided email, bulletin boards, and mailbox to stay up to date with changes within the department and hospital.

Personal Characteristics:

• High energy level.
• Superior interpersonal abilities. Ability to get along with diverse personalities, tactful, mature, flexible.
• Excellent reasoning abilities. Discretion and good judgment.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Resourceful and well organized.
• Participative management style-advocate of team concept.
• Ability to establish credibility and be decisive - but able to recognize and support the organization’s preferences and priorities.
• Results and people oriented, having sound judgment-ability to balance other considerations.
• Service oriented, but assertive/persuasive.
• Professional appearance and manner.

Education/Experience: Graduate of an accredited school of nursing. Knowledge of general nursing theory and practice required. Knowledge of principles, methods and techniques involved in performing general nursing services and adapting or modify standards of nursing practices for care of specific medical cases.

Licenses and Certifications: Current Registered Nurse (RN) licensure in the State of Kansas or has work permit from the State Board of Nursing. American Heart Association BLS for Healthcare Providers certification required or must complete BLS certification within one month of employment. ACLS and PALS certification is required and must be completed within 6 months of employment. TNCC and NRP certification is preferred.

Schedule Availability: Ability to work weekends and holidays.

Expectation of Service: This is a non-exempt position with hours of work dependent on position held. Regular and punctual attendance is required.

Supervisory Responsibility: Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN), Licensed Practical Nurses with IV skills, Graduate Practical Nurses, Graduate Nurses, Student Nurses, Certified Nurse Aides (CNA), and Ward Clerks (WC).

Additional Responsibilities: Perform other duties, within scope of practice, as directed by the Chief Nursing Officer or Charge Nurse.

General Aptitudes

The Americans with Disabilities Act requires general aptitudes and physical requirements needed to perform the job listed above. Individuals who have the position must be able to perform all essential job functions unaided or with reasonable accommodation.

Mental Abilities: Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions. Ability to guide and/or give instructions and to make decisions in accordance with established procedures and policies. Ability to focus, concentrate and use critical thinking skills. Ability to comprehend forms in space and understand relationships of plane and solid objects.

Verbal Abilities: Communicate effectively in English.

Numerical Abilities: Ability to perform arithmetic operations quickly and accurately.

Physical Requirements

Motor Coordination: Ability to coordinate eyes, hands, or fingers rapidly and accurately in making precise movements. Ability to use a telephone, copy and fax machine. Able to manipulate computer keyboard, mouse, computerized systems. Medical Equipment Finger Dexterity: Ability to move fingers and manipulate small objects with the fingers rapidly or accurately.

Physical Demands: Lift/carry: frequently 5-25 lbs; occasionally 26-50 lbs; rarely 51-100 lbs. Push/pull: frequently 5-10 lbs; occasionally 11-50 lbs; rarely 51 lbs. Hold occasionally 5-10 lbs; rarely 11 lbs. Manipulation done from ground to waist level and waist to shoulder. Climbing: to move up or mount by using the hands or feet. Stairways: occasionally. Stand: frequently 5 to 12 hours. Sit: 1 to 3 hours/day. Walk: frequently 5 to 12 hours/day.

Manual Dexterity & Sensation: Ability to stretch out, extend, or put forth a body part. Ability to touch or grasp something by extending or stretching. Ability to touch, lift, hold or operate with the hands.

Sight: Essential to job function are peripheral vision focus (distinctness or clarity), depth perception (determine distance relationship between objects), and ability to distinguish colors.

Scott County Hospital is an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristics as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.