Med/Surg Registered Nurse - 6 Usen

About the Role

The registered nurse renders highly professional and technical nursing care to assigned patients. Provides direct and indirect patient care using the nursing process (assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation). Oversees other assigned team members and collaborates with a multidisciplinary team to provide population-specific care in accordance with the BORN regulations and professional standards of care.

Med/Surg experience is required (1 year), unless otherwise noted in the job posting. Telemetry experience is preferred, as telemetry training is required within the first year of employment.

Responsibilities

• Adheres to general hospital standards to promote a cooperative work environment by utilizing communication skills, interpersonal relationships, and team building.
• Follows departmental policies and procedures.
• Contributes to the overall quality of services.
• Assumes responsibility for staying informed about changes and makes independent decisions within the scope of nursing practice.
• Uses the nursing process and evidence-based practice to ensure quality patient care throughout the episode of care.
• Assesses the patient’s physical, psychological, spiritual, cultural, and social needs.
• Provides competent and compassionate care specific to the unique needs of individual patients and populations served.
• Individualizes care considering the patient’s age, developmental or physical abilities, spiritual, religious or cultural practices, economic status, literacy skills, communication skills, cognitive abilities, and gender or sexual orientation.
• Updates knowledge and skill of populations served to meet patient care needs.
• Applies knowledge of illness, injury, and disease in the assessment process and recognizes symptoms needing immediate intervention.
• Individualizes a plan of care based on assessments and in collaboration with the patient/family/significant other, resources, and multidisciplinary team members.
• Engages patient/family/significant others as partners in caring.
• Updates plan of care and nursing documentation based on continuing assessments.
• Implements clinical and technical aspects of care and physicians’ orders in compliance with standards of practice and care.
• Evaluates the patient/family/significant other’s responses to established goals and interventions, revising the plan of care as needed.
• Demonstrates the ability to set priorities when planning and implementing patient care.
• Coordinates and collaborates with appropriate resources and multidisciplinary team members to facilitate a comprehensive discharge plan.
• Recognizes changes in patient’s physical and mental status and informs the physician and/or another healthcare professional.
• Collaborates with Case Managers to anticipate discharge needs and address barriers.
• Identifies the person primarily responsible for care at home and includes them in patient teaching and discharge planning.
• Creates and maintains a safe and therapeutic environment for patients, self, and co-workers.
• Uses two patient identifiers to match the correct patient with the correct care, treatment, or services.
• Demonstrates principles of infection control, universal precautions, OSHA standards, Hazardous Material Guidelines, and isolation procedures.
• Safeguards the rights of patients and hospital personnel to privacy by protecting confidential information.
• Provides patient comfort and hygiene.
• Demonstrates proper use of equipment and supplies according to established procedures.
• Assesses the patient’s need prior to application of restraints and utilizes alternative measures when appropriate.
• Demonstrates proper technique and calibration of equipment when performing point-of-care testing.
• Assures equipment is operational and safe or removes it from service.
• Responds appropriately to emergency situations.
• Minimizes risk of injury by promoting fall precautions, use of call bell, side rails, and other safety practices.
• Treats patients and family in a non-judgmental, respectful manner.
• Advocates for the patient and makes them aware of their rights and responsibilities.
• Provides emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to patient and family needs.
• Assures quality of nursing practice through participation in performance improvement activities.
• Controls patient care costs through efficient management of supplies and services and suggestions for cost containment.
• Participates in performance improvement activities by evaluating outcomes of patient care and making recommendations.
• Ensures complete, accurate, and timely written communication of patient information.
• Completes all parts of the documentation system per hospital/unit policies.
• Ensures appropriate documentation on or in patient’s discharge instructions.
• Documents patient’s progress or lack of progress in a chronologically accurate and organized format.
• Provides safe, accurate, and timely medication and IV administration.
• Consistently uses the “5 rights” when administering medication to patients.
• Scans patient, medication, and self barcodes where applicable.
• Demonstrates knowledge of drug action and appropriate nursing interventions for adverse drug reactions.
• Verifies or rectifies patient medication records per unit protocols.
• Demonstrates critical assessment of correct drug, appropriate dose, and correct pump settings for patients with continuous large volume infusion, PCA, or Epidural.
• Verbalizes appropriate recognition and reporting of medication variances and problems.
• Verifies and analyzes the appropriateness of medication/IV fluid orders.
• Ensures correct infusion rates when administering medications using the infusion pump.
• Coordinates and collaborates with other multidisciplinary team members to facilitate a comprehensive educational plan.
• Assesses the need for patient/family/significant other education.
• Formulates and implements an educational plan based on assessed needs, considering learning barriers and spiritual/religious/cultural needs.
• Documents education in the patient record.
• Evaluates outcomes of the education plan, monitors the learning process, elicits feedback, and modifies instruction based on evaluation.
• Takes personal responsibility for own performance and professional growth and development.
• Initiates and facilitates changes to improve the quality of nursing care on the unit.
• Demonstrates accountability for the care given to assigned patients.
• Works well with co-workers and collaborates with other members of the healthcare team.
• Accepts and learns from constructive criticism.
• Is self-directed in maintaining clinical competence, mandatory training, and other regulatory requirements.
• Performs duties of charge nurse competently, as needed.
• Acts as a resource and professional role model for peers and students.
• Assists in orientation and ongoing support of new staff.
• Advocates for the patient by escalating care concerns up the chain of command.
• Manages urgent and emergent situations effectively.
• Communicates effectively and promotes a cooperative working environment using effective communication skills.
• Addresses conflicts with appropriate personnel, utilizing listening skills and showing sensitivity.
• Communicates expectations to assigned team members clearly and thoroughly.
• Solves problems effectively.
• Ensures critical patient information and data are communicated across the continuum of care.
• Supports and promotes management decisions, goals, and initiatives.

Device Clinic RN Role-Specific Responsibilities

• Enrolls, interrogates, and programs outpatient pacemaker patients.
• Recognizes abnormalities, malfunctions, and End of Service indicators; notifies cardiologist and assists in scheduling patients for follow-up or replacement as indicated.
• Coordinates and prioritizes with other members of the healthcare team to respond to, plan, and initiate timely and efficient care.
• Educates patients and families regarding device function and clinic follow-up routine.
• Forwards information to referring physicians.
• Ensures timely and proper documentation and billing.
• Leads the device recall team.
• Responsible for administrative duties of all device trans-telephonic monitoring, including purchase orders, billing issues, and reporting.
• Oversees Cardiac Arrhythmia Service event monitoring.
• Provides cross-coverage as necessary.
• Serves as a resource to staff, other departments, and administration; provides input and recommendations to develop and maintain budgetary goals.
• Maintains knowledge of hospital, department, and regulatory agency policies and requirements.
• Participates in continuing education.

Requirements

• Registered Nurse (RN) license in Massachusetts (required).
• Demonstrated clinical competence and experience as required by the specific job posting/specialty area.

Qualifications

• Nursing diploma or associate degree (required).
• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (preferred).
• Experience in Med/Surg (1 year required unless otherwise noted).
• Telemetry experience (preferred).

Skills

• Uses the nursing process and evidence-based practice to ensure quality patient care.
• Creates and maintains a safe and therapeutic environment for patients, self, and co-workers.
• Assures quality of nursing practice through participation in performance improvement activities.
• Ensures complete, accurate, and timely written communication of patient information.
• Provides safe, accurate, and timely medication and IV administration.
• Coordinates and collaborates with other multidisciplinary team members to facilitate a comprehensive educational plan.

Physical Environment

The RN works in a variety of patient care environments where there may be exposure to communicable diseases, hazardous materials (e.g., chemotherapeutic agents, radioisotopes, radiation), human waste, and other unpleasant elements. Other duties may involve general cleaning with exposure to dirt, odors, and cramped quarters. RNs may work with angry, agitated, or combative patients.

Physical Requirements

• Standing: Frequently (34-66%)
• Walking: Frequently (34-66%)
• Sitting: Occasionally (3-33%)
• Lifting: Frequently (34-66%), up to 35 lbs (with assisted device)
• Carrying: Frequently (34-66%), 20-35 lbs
• Pushing: Occasionally (3-33%)
• Pulling: Occasionally (3-33%)
• Climbing: Rarely (Less than 2%)
• Balancing: Frequently (34-66%)
• Stooping: Occasionally (3-3