AK - Med/Surg RN -

Job Description:

Must have active AK License at time of submission
Must have COVID vaccines including 1 Booster and flu vaccine
Position Summary:
The clinical nurse coordinates and performs a variety of nursing care procedures for patients of all ages, requiring professional knowledge and consideration of specific patient conditions and treatments and the ability to work independently in completing assignments. Guidelines include physician s orders; standards of care, nursing policies and procedures manuals, hospital policies, nursing duties include support to individuals of all ages and their families.
Position Complexities:
Clinical decisions are made independently during the scheduled shift; maintains complete accountability for all actions taken. Consults with the appropriate manager/supervisor in difficult situations requiring additional input. Able to react in a calm manner and make sound nursing judgments in an emergency environment. Accountable for proper delegation and supervision of CNA/Tech.
Essential Duties/Responsibilities:
Duty/Responsibility #1 (30%):
Promotes the SEARHC Seven Standards of Excellence; implements safe, therapeutic and efficient care for patients with needs due to multisystem disease and/or complications of treatment using appropriate infection control measures; sets priorities for care of patients based on acuity and/or patients preference; anticipates potential problems; adapts to change in the area by setting priorities for emergencies; changes in patient status and unusual occurrences; initiates, manages and documents the nursing procedures consistent with scientific principle and departmental policy; demonstrates knowledge of equipment use; accurately administers age-specific medications and therapeutics; carries out the medical and nursing care plan and coordinates patient care activities with physicians and other healthcare team members; initiates action to reduce, correct or prevent immediate, ongoing or potential risks to the patient; facilitates healing by providing nursing care that is individualized, goal oriented, based on scientific principles and the nursing process; seeks out resources when beyond the scope of skill, knowledge or experience, explains tests, procedures and disease process to patient/significant others; follows through on nursing care plans by teaching and demonstrating skills essential for understanding and coping with illness and promoting optimal health; communicates and interacts with patient/significant others in a positive and supportive way; provides counseling using emotional, intellectual and psychological supports and utilizes other healthcare professionals in dealing with psychosocial problems if needed; takes steps to decrease stress and/or increase effectiveness of coping mechanisms of patient/significant others; evaluates patient s progress or lack of progress towards goals, directing new goal setting and implementing revised patient care plans as directed by reassessment; documents the patient s response to care; closes out patient care plan by discharge (with instructions) or has in place an after care plan to meet the patient s needs. Assures confidentiality of patient information.
Duty/Responsibility #2 (30%):
Accomplishes nursing assessment through interviewing, observation and nursing process; obtains, interprets and applies age-related (pediatric, adult and geriatric) patient information terms of cognitive, physical, emotional and normal growth/development needs of the patient; completes thorough Nursing Admission Databases/initial patient assessment; documents assessment findings that are consistent with other providers and include review of body systems, laboratory results, diagnostic findings, chart reviews and inter disciplinary input; identifies problems and nursing diagnosis by recognizing the impact of health problems on patients and families; distinguishes between normal and abnormal assessments in order to identify patient capabilities and limitations including psychosocial risks, utilizes resources to assess patients with conditions that are new, unfamiliar or not commonly seen. Shall perform duties as assigned and insure quality patient care despite the situation encountered, be it routine or emergent. Develops and contributes to a plan of nursing action based on existing and potential patient problems and obtainable patient responses which are mutually acceptable to the healthcare team; transcribes and notes physician orders accurately, utilizes past experience to provide a range of options for nursing care; initiates patient care plans using patient care standards; addresses identified nursing diagnosis and coordinates the plan with the healthcare team by using methods that include interventions, goals and time frames; utilizes resources to formulate a written plan of care; documents reassessments which include laboratory results, diagnostic findings, interdisciplinary notes and documented patient observations; gives shift report according to guidelines. Other duties as assigned.
Duty/Responsibility #3 (25%):
Imparts educational knowledge to develop skills to enhance decision making and promote understanding by interacting with patients, family, staff and community; engages in ongoing evaluation of the effectiveness of teaching in terms of patient understanding and behavioral outcomes; organizes and participates in patient care conferences as applicable; identifies staff, patient and family needs and develops a plan for education and/or makes appropriate referrals; develops/implements educational programs and learning aids in the department (i.e. in-services, special projects, learning aides, patient care standards); documents education accurately and completely; provides discharge patient information; participate in in-services and educational programs in the department, hospital and/or community as assigned; ACLS and PALS trained within the first 6 months of employment and bi-annually thereafter; completes all mandatory training and competency checks; utilizes opportunities for incidental teaching with staff members.
Duty/Responsibility #4 (10%):
Communicates with staff, patients, significant others and other members of the healthcare team in a way that is supportive, constructive and positive; gives feedback to other staff and healthcare team members in regard to behavior that does not support achievement; assists in the orientation of new staff, travelers and students by sharing knowledge, experience and verbal encouragement; guides others in choosing nursing intervention, developing skills and applying knowledge; follows and directs others to follow corporate, hospital and departmental policies, procedures and patient care standards; supports the area and overall Nursing services mission by assigning staff to productive tasks and floating to other units as needed; provides input regarding the need for change in policies, procedures and patient care standards able to perform as Contact RN leading assigned RNs and CNAs and accomplishes all assigned patient care and area support activities during the shift.
Duty/Responsibility #5 (5%):
Attends and participates in at least 50% of departmental staff meetings; applies information presented in staff meetings; participates in unit goal setting; complies with area and departmental scheduling guidelines; initiates discussion with nurse manager regarding area or department issues; completes annual competencies, evaluation material, maintains certification sand licensure; complies with dress code; refers un-resolved problems with patients/visitors/co-workers to Nurse Manager or Administrative Manger for resolution, addresses employee concerns consistent with Human Resources policy.
Baseline Qualification Requirements:
Graduate of an accredited school of Nursing (Bachelor s degree in Nursing, Associate s degree in Nursing or Diploma in Nursing
One year clinical nurse experience preferred
Prior CCS experience is preferred
A valid, current, full, and unrestricted RN license in the State of Alaska
Must have BLS until get ACLS. ACLS and PALS must be obtained within 6 months of hire date and prior to completion of clinical orientation; bi-annually thereafter.
NRP Preferred
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Knowledge of Critical Care nursing care principles, practices, diagnosis and processes (including assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation) to provide professional nursing care to patients.
Competency to recognize emergently ill patients and adverse signs and symptoms and to act promptly in emergency situations.
Knowledge of Critical Care and general pharmaceuticals, their desired effects, side effects and complications in their use.
Skills to apply scientific principles in operating and monitoring of basic and specialized emergency room medical equipment (ex: defi8brillator, chest tube insertion and set up, gastric and thoracic suction, EKG machines, etc).
Proficient in the use of critical response procedures (i.e. intubations, arterial line set up, arterial blood gas puncture, thoracentesis, lavage, etc.).
Oral and written communication skills, can enter and retrieve patient data accurately, can verbally communicate findings with healthcare team.
Ability to provide guidance, leadership and work cooperatively with others by establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships with patients, visitors and other healthcare team members.
Ability to implement appropriate nursing therapeutic interventions based on the knowledge of a wide variety of nursing diagnosis, evidenced based practice, medical and psychosocial disorders, the normal courses of disease and anticipated complications.
Ability to recognize adverse signs and symptoms, which are not always apparent and to react promptly in emergency situations including the implementation of life saving procedures.
Lead Exercised:
Title: CNA II

Position Urgency:
Normal

Shifts:
Discussed at Interview

State License Details:
Must Be Currently Active

Minimum Years of Experience:
2

Minimum Guaranteed Hours:
36

Specialty Type:
Nursing

Sub Specialty:
Med-surg Adult, Med-surg Mother/Baby, Med-surg Peds, Med-Surg Ortho, Critical Access Hospital RN

General Certifications:
BLS/BCLS

Bilingual:
No

EMR Used:
Cerner

Holiday Coverage Required:
Yes