STAFF NURSE UNION, RN - SENIOR CARE UNIT

Basic Function

A staff nurse is a professional nurse who delegates and coordinates patient care, based upon a documented assessment of the patient’s needs. The staff nurse applies the nursing process of assessment, planning interventions, implementing the plan of care, and evaluating that care. The nurse is a patient advocate, who in conjunction with the other members of the healthcare team guides the patient safely through the hospital stay. The staff nurse is responsible to the nurse unit manager, or in her/his absence, the supervisor.

Job Duties

• Accurately communicates patient data to receiving provider at transitions of care.
• Accurately provides and delegates patient care.
• Collaborates with health care team members to complete hourly rounding.
• Transcribes, observes, and coordinates physician orders.
• Able to obtain lab and radiology reports off computer.
• Notifies physician of abnormal results in a timely manner.
• Documents in a complete, concise manner.
• Utilizes patient plan of care format.
• Participates in discharge planning with the coordination of the Clinical Nurse Leader.
• Initiates, maintains, administers and documents IV Therapy.
• Affords assistance to orientation of new and current staff and students.
• Coordinates patient/family teaching.
• Patient’s health condition.
• Medications incorporating patient MAR.
• Discharge instructions.
• Responsible for checking emails and online learning assignments on a regular basis.
• Able to appropriately delegate patient care utilizing clinical judgment and maintaining accountability for patient care.
• If designated charge nurse for the dept: Assists manager with staff evaluations through input. Assists with quality data collection. Assists supervisor/manager with shift staffing.
• Charge nurse assigns staff for patient care based on patient acuity, experience of nurses and mix of colleagues, i.e., float nurses, nurses pulled from other nursing units.
• Charge nurse assures checking/care and documentation of equipment.
• Code cart/suction.
• Glucometer.
• Medication dispensing system discrepancy.
• If Designated To Intensive Care Unit: Able to lead Code Blue until the arrival of physician. Responds quickly to Rapid Response Team alerts when assigned, competently and efficiently assessing the patient status, and working with the physician and team to manage the care of the patient.

Qualifications

• Currently licensed by the Ohio State Board of Nursing and or multistate licensure.
• Has been actively employed in a hospital-based nursing within the past 5 years, or completion of a state approved R.N. refresher course within the past year or is a recent graduate of an accredited school of nursing (R.N.).
• Shows evidence of participation in continuing education and the unit-based Quality Program.
• Successful completion of the Registered Nurse Orientation Program at Alliance Community Hospital.
• Maintains current BLS certification through the American Heart Association.
• Senior Care Unit – Crisis Intervention and De-Escalation (CIDE) certified within 3 months and maintained annually.
• 3 West, ICU, PCU & Floats - Must complete critical care course upon hire (effective hire date in 2022).
• Obtain and maintain ACLS certification through the American Heart Association within 6 months of hire.
• ICU, PCU & Floats - NIH stroke scale obtained and maintained within 6 months of hire.
• Hemodialysis trained nurses – Minimum of 1 year dialysis experience preferred. Minimum of 1-year critical care experience.
• Successful completion of AACH dialysis training program, or able to provide documentation of dialysis training.

Physical Requirements

• Able to stand/walk for up to full scheduled shift per day.
• Able to bend to reach items on floor or bedside level.
• Able to reach overhead.
• Able to reach over a bed far enough to give care and turn patients.
• Able to push or pull patients or necessary equipment (i.e. wheelchair, EKG machine, code cart).
• Able to lift 50 lbs. intermittently, unassisted.
• Able to move/transfer and ambulate patients unassisted and/or assisted as necessary using good body mechanics or appropriate techniques (i.e. slide board, total lift).
• Able to lift, hold, and/or support a patient’s extremity or trunk for a period during a procedure.
• Able to climb onto step stool and to apply a minimum of 25-pound pressure/force for compressions during CPR.
• Able to wear personal protective equipment for an extended period, as necessary, (i.e. mask, goggles, etc.).
• Able to turn and twist as necessary.
• Able to squat, kneel, or crawl as necessary.
• Able to see clearly and able to distinguish appropriate rhythms from a minimum distance of 6 feet.
• Able to hear normal speaking voices.
• Able to communicate verbally and over the telephone in clear speech.
• Able to write clearly.