Registered Nurse/RN - Emergency Department (Northport, AL)

About the Role

Our Emergency Departments offer comprehensive emergency medical services to all age groups and are staffed 24/7 by a highly trained team to meet the needs of the community. The ED team is composed of physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and support staff. Our Northport Medical Center’s Emergency Department is a 17-bed Level III Stroke Center that treats more than 38,000 patients annually. The nurse-to-patient ratio ranges from 1:1 with critical/trauma patients to 1:3-4 for all other patients.

This role involves planning, coordinating, and directing quality, compassionate care by maintaining standards of professional nursing practice and creating positive therapeutic relationships with patients and families. You will provide leadership to other team members by articulating and delegating expected standards of care, supervising, and encouraging team members, and supporting their contributions. You will supervise LPNs, PCAs, PCAs/US, US, Ortho Techs, and other non-licensed staff.

Responsibilities

• Assess the condition of each assigned patient on admission and on an ongoing basis, including but not limited to physical condition, psychological status, social status, spiritual and cultural needs, pain assessment/management, nutritional and functional status, developmental or age-related factors, and discharge planning needs.
• Plan, provide, and document patient and/or significant other education based on physical, behavioral, psychological, developmental, and age-related factors, after identifying barriers to learning.
• Evaluate and regularly reevaluate patient care; coordinate care planning with patient, family, providers, and other disciplines to achieve patient-centered outcomes.
• Assign and delegate nursing care to team members in accordance with the patient’s needs and the capabilities of the team members.
• Apply safety principles when performing care and accurately document observations, care provided, and changes in the care plan.
• Participate in transition rounds, care planning/problem identification, and team shift reports.
• Assist in performance improvement (PI) activities by serving on PI teams as warranted, assisting with PI measures, and supporting and implementing changes necessary for improvement.
• Perform initial and annual competency per job class.
• Maintain performance, patient and employee satisfaction, and financial standards as outlined in the performance evaluation.
• Perform compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook.
• Adhere to the DCH Behavioral Standards, including creating positive relationships with patients/families, coworkers, colleagues, and self.
• Perform essential job functions in a manner that ensures the safety of patients, visitors, and employees.
• Identify and reduce unsafe practices that may result in harm to patients, visitors, and employees.
• Recognize and take appropriate action to reduce risks and hazards to promote safety for patients, visitors, and employees.
• Use electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software, and intranet.
• Adhere to all DCH Health System policies and procedures.
• All other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Current approved Alabama Board of Nursing RN license or multi-state license required or ability to obtain prior to start.
• Current American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider training required.
• BSN preferred; minimum Associate’s degree required.
• Must be able to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English.
• Within 6 months of start date, the following certifications are required:
  • American Heart Association or American Red Cross accepted Cardiac/Critical Care ACLS (Emergency Department—both campuses).
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) (Emergency Department—Regional Campus only).
  • Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC).
  • Perioperative ACLS (PACU).
  • PALS, ACLS (Women’s/Children NICU—Neonatal Resuscitation (NRP)).
  • ACLS, NRP, and Intermediate Fetal Monitoring (Labor & Delivery).
  • NRP (Mother Baby Unit).
  • PALS (Pediatrics).
  • ACLS (Clinical Support Cardiac Monitoring Unit).
  • ACLS (Dialysis).

Working Conditions

• Demonstrate leadership skills and require decision-making that will affect others.
• Responsible for achieving outcomes and must be able to communicate clearly and accurately.
• Ability to delegate to team members and students, and receive delegation.
• Address conflict and stressful situations, and communicate with different personalities.
• Deal with unpleasant or verbally/physically aggressive personalities.
• Use electronic mail, telephone, and texting.
• Work in groups and perform structured and unstructured work.
• Meet time pressure and deadlines.
• Possible exposure to human body fluids, disease, infection, lab chemicals, and hazardous materials and/or cleaning solutions.
• Require wearing common protective and safety equipment such as gloves, safety glasses, masks, gowns, etc.
• Schedules vary; every other weekend required (includes Saturday & Sunday).

Physical Requirements

• Medium work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Must be able to tolerate prolonged periods of standing and walking.
• Must be able to reach reasonable distances in any direction.
• Must be able to stand, walk, kneel, bend, sit, and stoop.
• Must be able to run in an emergency.
• Must have the ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, and carry objects.
• Must be able to move fingers in a coordinated manner and feel and perceive temperature, texture, shape, and size with fingertips.
• Must be able to perform the duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Must possess stamina to work prolonged shifts.
• Hearing and vision must be normal or corrected to within normal range.
• Physical presence onsite is essential.