RN/LPN - Office Nurse - Gibson Area Medical Clinic FT

General Summary

The staff RN is a professional practitioner who functions as both a caregiver and care manager. In the caregiver role, the RN assumes responsibility for a group of patients for a designated time frame implementing the Nursing Process and therapeutic use of self. In the dominant role of care manager, the RN directs and oversees the care of other caregivers (nurses and non-nurses) via delegation, coordination, supervision, validation, and evaluation.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Performs assessment and data collection in an ongoing and systematic manner, focusing on the patient’s physiologic and cognitive status.
• Formulates or individualizes a predefined, goal consistent and continuous manner by utilization of and adherence to pre-determined standards which define the structure, process, and desired patient outcomes of nursing process.
• Evaluates effectiveness of care given by self and by all health care team members.
• Identifies patient learning needs and readiness for learning.
• Implements patient/significant other instruction to meet self-care needs as defined in standards of care and patient teaching protocols.
• Performs documentation responsibilities following all existing structure standards and guidelines for forms used in the Division of Nursing and specially assigned areas.
• Demonstrates applied knowledge base in areas of structure standards, patient care resources/references, protocols, pertinent drugs, standards of care, and significant lab values.
• Participates actively in staff development activities by sharing knowledge with others and using appropriate teaching/learning strategies to assist peers.
• Participates in development and attainment of unit and department of nursing goals.
• Participates in development of standards at both the generic and unit specific levels, demonstrates an attitude of acceptance/importance of standards in all professional practice strives to achieve minimum compliance levels and uses “professional modification” measures with sound clinical judgment.
• Actively involves self in Performance Improvement (PI) activities at the generic and unit levels through use of data sources and compliance peer review monitoring.
• Demonstrates willingness and ability to effectively coordinate patient care/unit activities among nursing staff, physicians, and support services in both the care manager and “shift leader” role.
• Demonstrates effective organization and priority settings abilities in using self, human, and material resources in a time oriented and cost containment manner.
• Demonstrates effective verbal and written communication skills by implementing existing communication methods (i.e. staff meetings, communication boards, etc.), and always attempting to receive and give information in a timely, concise, clear and positive manner.
• Formulates and uses effective working relationships with all health care team members, patients, and families.
• Demonstrates appropriate use of lines of authority in clinical and operational matters when seeking direction, validating self-decision making, and resolving problematic issues.
• Remains flexible in staffing patterns and in resolution of staffing conflicts; participates in temporary assignment measures in the division of nursing.
• Demonstrates problem identification skills using existing PI tools/methods; demonstrates sound clinical and operational decision-making abilities based on current standards and resulting in prompt action/resolution.
• Demonstrates an attitude of seeking knowledge and rationale for actions and shows ability to apply theory/data to the clinical settings.

Physical Requirements

• Visual acuity to observe patient assessment data and use manual/automated documentation tools.
• Auditory acuity to hear patient verbal communication and gather data using auscultatory skills.
• Manual dexterity of hands and feet to ambulate 8-12 hours per shift and to adroitly manage multiple pieces of equipment/tubes/invasive lines.
• Physical strength to perform CPR(bed/floor), lift/push/pull 60-300 pounds (with assistance) as often as 20 times per 8-12 hours and perform constant walking, twisting, turning, and stretching maneuvers in patient care and use of patient care equipment.
• Physical strength to perform the following lifting tasks: Floor to waist - 40 pounds 14” to waist - 50 pounds Waist to shoulder - 20 pounds Shoulder to overhead - 10 pounds Carry 40 pounds for 30 feet Push 40 pounds/force for 30 feet Pull 40 pounds/force for 30 feet Patient transfer with gait belt Ability to push patient in wheelchair
• Patient transfer with gait belt Ability to push patient in wheelchair
• Keen mental faculties to perform assessment and decision making skills in the management of acutely ill patients.
• Communications/speaking/enunciation skills to receive and give information in person and by telephone.
• Emotional stability conducive to dealing with a high stress level for 8-12 hours at a time associated with caring for acute patients/SO, fast paced physical activity, rapidly changing patient conditions, emotional demands and their families, and the demands of maintaining effective working relationships with peers, managers, physicians and other health care workers.