Job Description

Under the general supervision of the Clinical Coordinator and Director of Surgical Services, is responsible for the delivery of safe, effective and quality patient/family centered care in Surgical Services.

Clinical Competency:

• Assesses patients at intervals and communicates current status through the continuum of care
• Protects patient from injury caused by chemical, electrical, positioning, heat and/or extraneous objects
• Performs count procedure to protect patient from unintended retained foreign objects
• Performs "time out" procedure for every patient to ensure correct side, site and level prior to procedure
• Manages patient specimen according to hospital policy
• Administers medications appropriately - Performs interventions to maintain body systems, fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balances, wound and tissue perfusion at or above baseline - Performs interventions to ensure patient is at or returned to normothermia at the conclusion of procedure
• Protects the patient from infection using handwashing and aseptic technique
• Transfers care using hospital approved handoff
• Documents nursing care consistently, timely, and without omissions
• Delegates tasks as appropriate according to the state Nurse Practice Act and job descriptions
• Identifies and acts appropriately to an OR emergency situation.
• May have to lift more than 25 pounds

Patient Advocacy:

• Protects the patient's rights, dignity, and privacy
• Establishes a compassionate environment by providing emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to patients, friends, and families
• Develops and/or implements and maintains an individualized plan of care, including developmental and cultural needs
• Promotes patient's independence by establishing patient care goals; teaching patient, friends, and family to understand condition, medications, and self-care skills; answering questions
• Resolves patient problems and needs by utilizing multidisciplinary team strategies
• Utilize appropriate resources for non-English speaking patients, hearing and sight impaired individuals, and/or healthcare illiteracy
• Takes proactive steps to recognize and report suspected abuse to your supervisor including child, geriatric, sexual, and spousal abuse

Quality & Professionalism:

• Ensures quality of care by adhering to therapeutic standards, measuring health outcomes against patient care goals and standards. Making recommendations for adjustments in patient care as necessary
• Adheres to Infection Prevention standards, consistent in hand hygiene practice before and after each patient interaction. Adheres to infection prevention precautions. Holds team members to IP and hand hygiene standards and room/patient IP precaution measures to prevent infection or the spread of infection
• Participates in quality review, performance improvement, survey readiness and patient satisfaction initiatives within the department such as hourly rounding, collateral duties, chart audits and nursing policy review/revisions as assigned
• Demonstrates ability to work independently and within a team environment
• Adheres to standards and applicable codes of conduct that govern behavior among peer and colleagues to create and environment promoting cooperation, respect and trust.
• Adheres to the standards of profession as outlined by the American Nurses Association
• Maintains professionalism by conforming to the Huggins Hospital dress code
• Continues professional growth by maintaining education hours for license renewals and participating in hospital committees, clinical council, and professional organizations

Organizational Expectations:

· Attendance: Attendance is an essential job function; employee comes to work daily, on time, and completes scheduled shift

· HIPAA: facilitates to maintain patient confidentiality

· Internal communication: contributes to positive team performance and a culture of service excellence through effective communication, active listening, and respect

· Interpersonal relationships: maintains appropriate interpersonal relationships with staff, patients, and visitors at all times. Works as a team member with other departments.

· Safety: Practices workplace safety daily

Employee Engagement:

· Actively participates in all hospital Service Excellence initiatives and trainings

· Attends and participates in a minimum of 50% department staff meetings and signs off on review of 100% department staff meeting minutes

· Completes all required annual education on or before the due date

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:Individuals must possess these knowledge, skills, and abilities or be able to explain and demonstrate that they can perform the primary functions of the job, with or without a reasonable accommodation, using some combination of skills and abilities and possess the necessary physical requirements, with or without a reasonable accommodation, to safely perform the essential functions of the job.

· Minimal physical effort required with occasional light lifting to a maximum of 25 pounds; stooping; and pick, pinch, type, or otherwise work primarily with fingers

· Ability to effectively manage considerable mental stress

· Ability to express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken word

· Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication

· Ability to communicate effectively with co-workers and convey information in a clear, concise and accurate manner

· Familiarity with computer and other business machines

Qualifications:

Education: Graduate from an accredited nursing program. BSN preferred

Experience: Current clinical skills within scope of practice; Effectively organize work and set priorities; Current infection control practice; Positive bedside manner; Applicable physio/social/spiritual knowledge related to patient care; Safe administration of medication; Works effectively within the healthcare team; Able to work irregular hours including call

License and Certification:

Current State License RN

Basic Life Support

Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)