RN, ICU

With five decades of experience, Shepherd Center provides world-class clinical care, research, and family support for people experiencing the most complex conditions, including spinal cord and brain injuries, multi-trauma, traumatic amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and pain. An elite center ranked by U.S. News as one of the nation’s top hospitals for rehabilitation, Shepherd Center is also recognized as both Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems. Shepherd is the only rehabilitation facility in the nation with an intensive care unit on-site, allowing us to care for the most complex patients and begin the rehabilitation process sooner.

About the role

The Registered Nurse (RN) provides basic care to patients, performing all job functions in an ethical manner and ensuring patient safety, privacy, dignity, and confidentiality. This role interacts with and contributes to the professional development and image of all unit staff practicing in a Shared Governance model of nursing practice. The RN ensures that the ANA scope and standards of practice and the code of ethics for nurses are the foundation for nursing practice.

• Promotes high-quality care, outcomes, nursing research, and evidence-based practice, contributing to building and maintaining a strong environment that facilitates collaboration to achieve quality outcomes.
• Utilizes a consistent, patient-focused care approach to meet patient needs and demonstrates initiatives to use a holistic approach to identify patient needs.
• Utilizes analytical skills and advanced assessment skills necessary to assess a patient’s condition and use that data through the nursing process and clinical judgment to provide comprehensive care.
• Collaborates and supports the plan of care as established by the interdisciplinary team and prescribes interventions to attain the expected outcomes.
• Evaluates the patient’s progress toward attainment of the outcomes, working collaboratively with the interdisciplinary healthcare team.
• Safely administers medications following policy/procedure and reports errors, near misses, or adverse drug reactions in a timely and efficient manner.
• Prepares and maintains a record of observations and care given, documenting information clearly and completely using correct forms/systems in a timely manner according to Center policy.
• Assists with medical appointments and medical procedures as requested by MD.
• Educates and prepares the patient/family for future self-management by facilitating patient movement from passive to an active partnership and eventually to a personal self-care expert.
• Serves as a clinical preceptor for new staff/students from nursing schools performing clinical/senior practicums or shadowing experience for prospective new employees.
• Ensures appropriate usage/ordering of supplies and proper charging.
• Performs consistently with Shepherd Center standards, clinical policies, and procedures.
• Practices proper safety techniques in accordance with Center and departmental policies and procedures.
• Responsible for the reporting of employee/patient/visitor injuries or accidents, or other safety issues to the supervisor and in the occurrence notification system.
• Actively participates in center-wide efforts that affect nursing practice.
• Adheres to patient/family-centered principles using the communication and engagement tools (OARS/AIDECT).
• Establishes relationships with other RNs.
• Performs other duties as required/requested/assigned.

Requirements

• Graduate of a nursing program from an accredited college or university.
• BLS certification required.
• Active Georgia RN license or NLC/eNLC Multistate License.
• Minimum one (1) year RN experience preferred.
• Basic computer skills.
• Basic competencies expected in nursing practice, patient and employee safety, infection control, performance improvement, practice innovation, professional nursing practice, standards of clinical nursing practice, and systems for patient safety.
• Demonstrates competency in time management, organization, prioritization, and critical thinking by planning and organizing work assignments and prioritizing the specific needs of the patient.
• Ability to assess patient and family needs and coordinate an appropriate nursing plan of care.
• Takes responsibility for growing professionally and seeks opportunities for improving skills.
• Communicates effectively using timely verbal, non-verbal, and written communication.
• Willingly adapts to changing work demands and work environment.
• Demonstrates critical thinking skills and makes sound judgments to monitor and respond to patient needs or changes in condition.
• Maintains congenial working relationships with RNs and others.
• Completes orientation and initial assessment of competency successfully by determined due date.
• Completes mandatory education and annual competency assessment requirements by determined due date.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience with patients with Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury, and/or behavioral health.
• ACLS and appropriate specialty certification required after an appropriate time frame.

Physical Demands

• Uses body, tools, or special devices to safely, effectively, and efficiently move, guide, or place patients. Involves some latitude for judgment with regard to precision attained and the selection of what adaptive device(s) to utilize.
• Ability to transfer and position patients, consistent with lifting up to 50 lbs.

Working Conditions

• Normal patient care environment.
• Some potential for exposure to blood and body fluids.
• Some potential exposure to infectious viruses.