Critical Care Registered Nurse (ICU RN)

Responsibilities

• Provides critical care nursing to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients
• Obtains patient history and pertinent family history
• Affirms patient and plans appropriate nursing care
• Documents plan of care and care given in patient’s medical record
• Verifies transcription of Physician orders; no verbal orders are to be accepted
• Carry out prescribed Physician orders and documents inpatient medical record
• Communicates pertinent patient data to the Charge Nurse and/or Physician as appropriate
• Re-assesses patient’s condition and revises plans-of-care based on problems that are identified
• Administers medications and Intravenous (IV) therapies
• Possesses knowledge of actions and usual dosages of the most commonly used emergency drugs and their location on the crash cart
• Assesses and documents patient responses to medications that have been administered
• Can interpret cardiac rhythms and their implications
• Reorganizes and initiates the appropriate measures in emergencies/therapies and surgical/diagnostic procedures that must be accomplished
• Instructs patients and their families regarding prescribed medications/therapies and surgical/diagnostic procedures that must be accomplished
• Assesses patient/family knowledge level, implements plan of instructions, and records the patient’s family’s demonstrated level of understanding
• Operates defibrillator, electrocardiogram (EKG) machines and cardiac monitors, and other emergency technical equipment
• Cares for patients with Swan-Gans catheters, arterial lines and mechanical ventilators
• Participates in discharge planning
• Can initiate life saving measures in the absence of Physicians
• Assures the content and correctness of a prepared report and signs the document to validate its content
• Maintains a neat personal appearance and maintains professional decorum
• Consistently applies the VA’s customer service standards, always demonstrating helpful, courteous, and respectful conduct
• Respects patient rights, including but not limited to visual and auditory privacy
• May accept a verbal order in compliance with the facility policy
• Intake and output of fluids assessed every shift, and more frequently if indicated by specific standard nursing drug care
• Reviews all laboratory data and electronic medical records
• Can titrate medications
• Can be responsible for feeding tubes which are aspirated for gastric residue prior to every intermittent feed, and every four hours for continuous tube feedings
• Performs urinary catheter care by using soap and water cleaning technique every 12 hours, or as required
• Ensures that medication orders from the previous shift have been noted and either carried out or transcribed onto the medical records

Qualifications

• Completion of an accredited Registered Nurse academic program (BSN or ADN)
• Current Registered Nurse licensure in at least one state, territory, or commonwealth of the United States or the District of Columbia
• American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• American Health Association (AHA) Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification
• One (1) year of recent Critical Care RN work experience is required
• No sponsorship available