RN Weekend Option, SCI-5

About Shepherd Center

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. Shepherd Center treats thousands of patients annually with unmatched expertise and unwavering compassion to help them begin again.

Shepherd Center's culture is one of hope, humor, and hard work. You will enjoy career growth, strong relationships with co-workers, strong support from leadership, and fun activities that have kept over 12% of staff members working at Shepherd for more than 20 years.

Responsibilities

• Provides basic care to patients, performing all job functions in an ethical manner and ensuring patient safety, privacy, dignity, and confidentiality.
• Interacts with and contributes to the professional development and image of all unit staff practicing in a Shared Governance model of nursing practice.
• 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 a collaborative environment 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 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 expected outcomes.
• Evaluates the patient’s progress toward attainment of 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 manner.
• Prepares and maintains a record of observations and care given, documenting information clearly and completely using correct forms/systems and in a timely manner.
• 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 eventual self-care expertise.
• Serves as a clinical preceptor for new staff/students from nursing schools performing clinical/senior practicums or shadowing experiences 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 reporting 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 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 in nursing practice, patient and employee safety, infection control, performance improvement, practice innovation, professional 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 patient needs.
• 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 the determined due date.
• Completes mandatory education and annual competency assessment requirements by the 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.
• Registered Nurses must sit for the appropriate certification for their designated specialty area within the first 3 years of hire or will not be eligible for a merit raise. To remain eligible for a merit raise, staff RNs must sit for the test each test date until they pass the exam.

Schedule

The RN Weekend Option generally works three (3) twelve (12) hour shifts (Friday/Saturday/Sunday or Saturday, Sunday, Monday) but is committed to working the weekend.

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 adaptive devices.
• 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.