RN Clinical - 6S Telemetry - Full Time 12 Hour Days (Non-Exempt) (Union)

About the Role

The Registered Nurse utilizes the nursing process to provide therapeutic care to patients as an integral part of the interdisciplinary team. Accountable for coordinating patient care and education in accordance with standards, policies, and practices in a compassionate, supportive, and therapeutic environment.

Responsibilities

• Follows policies and procedures; demonstrates ability to access online manuals.
• Transfers learned scientific knowledge into practical application using the Nursing Process.
• Assessment:
  • Completes Nursing Assessment upon patient admission, at each shift, and with change of condition.
  • Completes patient acuity by 0200/1400 daily.
• Diagnosis:
  • Interprets assessment information and formulates Nursing Diagnoses.
• Plan:
  • Develops Plans of Care with individualized interventions.
  • Documents expected/projected patient outcomes.
  • Reviews/Revises/Updates Plans of Care daily based on evaluation and interpretation of patient outcomes.
• Intervention:
  • Administers medication and IV therapy appropriately at prescribed intervals.
  • Completes patient care procedures correctly per policy at prescribed intervals.
  • Delegates tasks based on others’ scope of practice and competency.
  • Acts as patient advocate.
  • Manages restraint use per policy:
    • Attempts alternative non-restraint measures first.
    • Ensures complete MD order per policy.
    • Ensures MD assessment per policy.
    • Assures patient monitoring per policy.
    • Ensures Restraint Audit Form is completed each shift.
• Documentation:
  • Documentation is complete and correct on all flow sheets and chart forms:
    • Admission Assessment
    • Pain scale assessment and reassessment before and after intervention
    • Daily flow sheet
    • Restraint flow sheet
    • Diabetes flow sheet
    • Educational flow sheet
    • Kardex Care Plan
    • Risk Assessment & Reassessment upon Fall
    • MAR
    • Equipment & Supplies
    • Intra and Inter Facility Transfer Forms
    • Belonging Tracking Form
  • Ensures orders are transcribed and signed off prior to the end of the shift.
  • Completes 12h/24h chart checks.
• Education:
  • Provides patient/family education as needed:
    • Room/unit orientation
    • Plan of Care
    • Identifies knowledge deficits related to diagnoses and care
  • Uses and provides MICROMEDEX information to patients and families.
• Transfer & Discharge:
  • Collaborates with Case Manager and/or physician regarding discharge planning.
  • Ensures all transfer paperwork is completed.
  • Ensures belongings are sent with patient.
• Equipment:
  • Utilizes patient care equipment appropriately and safely according to manufacturer guidelines:
    • IV pump
    • Feeding pump
    • PCA pump
    • Epidural pump
    • Sequential compression device
    • Wound VAC
    • Heating pad/pump
• Communication:
  • Communicates effectively with all members of the healthcare team including patient and family:
    • Shift to shift report
    • Physician Rounds
    • Patient/family interactions
    • MDP Rounds
    • Hand-Off reports
    • Facility E-mail
    • Student/New employee/Contract employee
• Organization:
  • Manages time effectively.
  • Able to organize and prioritize responsibilities.
  • Takes meal breaks without incurring overtime.
  • Completes shift on time.
• Regulatory Agency Requirements:
  • Observes National Patient Safety Goals:
    • Patient identifiers
    • Unapproved abbreviations
    • Universal Protocol (Procedural Time Out)
    • Hand-Off
    • Medication Reconciliation
    • Clinical Alarms
  • Manages hazardous waste:
    • Biohazard
    • Medication
    • Sharps
  • Complies with HIPAA and OSHA requirements (e.g., no food or drink in clinical areas).
  • Maintains JCAHO – continuous survey readiness.
  • Follows Critical Values protocol:
    • Write Down
    • Read Back
    • Follow up
  • Handles Telephone orders:
    • Appropriate
    • Documented
    • Signed, Timed and Dated
    • Stamped
    • Entered into unit log
  • Maintains safe practice in the work environment:
    • Correct body mechanics
    • Electrical safety
    • Infection Control Procedures
    • Hand Washing
• Management of the Care of Medical Surgical Patients:
  • Demonstrates the ability to manage patients with:
    • THA (6N)
    • TKA (6N)
    • Spinal surgery (6S)
    • Cystic fibrosis (isolation precautions, respiratory and nutrition care) (6S)
    • Abdominal organ transplants (medications and protective isolation precautions) (6S)
    • Hepatic encephalopathy (safety precautions and skin care)
• Management of the Care of Patients in the Intensive Care Unit/S:
  • Demonstrates the ability to manage complex critically ill patients:
    • Neurosurgery, thoracic-forgut, gastric bypass, orthopedic
    • Liver/kidney/pancreas transplants, hepatobiliary
    • Open heart, heart and lung transplants
  • Demonstrates the ability to manage advanced therapeutic modalities:
    • Hemodynamic monitoring
    • Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT, CVVHD)
    • Ventriculostomy, intracranial pressure monitoring
    • Ventricular assist devices, balloon pumps
• Management of the Care of Patients in the Stepdown/Telemetry Units:
  • Demonstrates the ability to manage high acuity patients requiring specialized monitoring and care:
    • Status post open heart, heart transplant, lung transplant
    • Status post liver/kidney transplants, orthopedics, hepatobiliary, general surgeries
    • Status post thoracic-forgut, gastric bypass, neurology, neurosurgery
  • Demonstrates the ability to manage advanced therapeutic modalities:
    • Ventilator care
    • Arterial/CVP lines
    • Ventricular assist devices
    • Lumbar drains
• Management of the Care of Patients Undergoing Dialysis Treatment:
  • Initiates, performs, and terminates all dialysis treatments according to policy and standards of care.
  • Reviews all orders and labs prior to initiating treatments.
  • Informs patient of treatment plan.
  • Completes all documentation completely and according to policy on the dialysis treatment record.
  • Performs all pre-treatment safety checks.
  • Performs appropriate machine maintenance according to dialysis policies and procedures.
  • Checks charts for dialysis orders prior to arriving on the unit with the dialysis equipment.
  • Calls physicians for orders early in the shift when orders for dialysis have been placed, but no treatment orders are written.
  • Completes med/surg dialysis treatments on 3S whenever there are more than 2 med/surg patients scheduled.
• Management of the Care of the Psychiatric Patient:
  • Engages patients in therapeutic interactions.
  • Maintains therapeutic milieu.
  • Assesses and monitors for patient safety including:
    • Contraband assessment upon admission, change of shift, and prn.
    • Initiates and participates in treatment planning.
    • Monitors locked doors into and out of the unit.
    • Logs in visitors and assesses for contraband.
    • Follows patients’ legal status each shift and communicates with Department of Mental Health and other agencies as required