Staff Nurse

Department : Acute Care CVH

Exempt : No

Schedule : NIGHTS - VARIABLE

Position Type : Full Time 0.6 FTE or More

FTE : 0.600000

Base Wage $38.45 to $72.75

Location : Cascade Valley Hospital

Sign-On Bonus : $10,000.00

The information described in this job description has been designed to indicate the general nature of the work performed. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Other information : Job Summary

A professional caregiver who assumes accountability for a group of patients by providing care to these patients through the nursing process. The RN is dedicated to providing quality service in a timely, courteous, and cost effective manner. The information described in this job description has been designed to indicate the general nature of the work performed. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. Skagit Regional Health offers a comprehensive benefit package including medical, dental, vision, 457b / 401a (retirement), long term disability, and paid time off to all employees holding an FTE of 20 or more hours per week. Eligible employees also receive sick time pay.

Essential Functions

Demonstrates Safety Awareness : Role in codes red, blue, orange, gray, silver, amber, external triage, internal triage, rapid response team, Stroke, "CODE NAME" clear, and lift. Role in medical equipment failure (if applicable) using universal precautions. Demonstrating, describing proper body mechanics. Using lifts. Appropriately disposes of materials (linens, sharps, hazardous materials). Practices Infection Control Strategies : Describes / demonstrates standard precautions, contact precautions, droplet precautions, and airborne precautions. Describes / demonstrates work unit specific infection control processes related to equipment, procedures, etc. Participates in Quality Improvement : Seeks knowledge, skills, abilities to implement quality improvement processes. Implements quality improvement processes. HIPAA Requirements : Observes / protects patient privacy and confidentiality. Corporate Compliance : Demonstrates understanding of Corporate Compliance and business ethics. Environment of care : Describes or demonstrates responsibilities under all Environment of Care (EOC) areas with respect to job title, work unit and area of expertise. Follows the approved hand hygiene practices and procedures : Follows proper hand hygiene procedures. Natural nails are proper length and free of ornamentation. Practices Age / Culture Awareness : Describes / demonstrates considerations made for cultural differences encountered in day-to-day work. Describes / demonstrates considerations made for age differences encountered in day-to-day work. Safely and accurately performs bedside blood glucose testing : Performs bedside blood glucose testing using appropriate techniques per policy. Interprets results and intervenes appropriately. Performs quality control per procedure. Has completed written Accucheck competency this calendar year. Knowledge and standards of performance : Follows unit specific RN performance standards, structure standards, policies procedures. Utilizes knowledge of human growth and development to plan and provide age-appropriate patient care. Demonstrates effective responses to unit / patient crisis situations. Demonstrates punctuality to work, maintains good attendance record, and commitment to assigned schedule. Completes timecard per procedure, adheres to dress code, and keeps license and certifications up-to-date. Participates in self-evaluation and completes all required data at performance appraisal time. Demonstrates ability to appropriately challenge questionable care practices. Participates in committees, task forces, and projects. Attends unit staff meetings and maintains effective interdepartmental communication. Maintains a positive, customer-oriented attitude. Meets organizational and work unit standards as outlined in policies and procedures. Performs all job duties in accordance with recognized safety procedures. Demonstrates the ability to make calm and sensible decisions under various work situations, dealing with immediate problems reasonably. Chooses appropriate standard of care and associated protocols and individualizes POC per patient need. Reviews POC and revises as needed. Collaborates with other health care professionals, communicates POC to other members of health care team. Completes all POC upon discharge. Engages in discharge planning. Demonstrates ongoing evaluation of patient condition and evaluates effectiveness of each intervention. Judges the effectiveness of current protocols and documents all evaluations. Prior to discharge completes / reviews / sends with patient : discharge Med Reconciliation list, appropriate discharge teaching, and complete discharge instructions. Identifies patient / significant other learning needs and implements appropriate teaching protocols. Utilizes documentation tools according to established guidelines. Documents effectiveness of medications. Documents pain scale evaluations. Patient's Rights / Legal Issues : Functions to protect patient privacy, meet patient's right to be informed, and protect patient's valuables per hospital policy. Continuous Quality Improvement : Demonstrates appropriate use of QMM system and adherence to all unit and department safety policies. Participates in QI activities : audits, data collection, and criteria development. Leads and / or participates in developing and designing systems and processes for the organization. Continually improves and redesigns processes to increase productivity and quality. Accountable and productive time mgmt. Essential Functions Specific to Acute Care : Knowledge and standards of Performance : Demonstrates ability to carry out unit-specific skills and assist physicians with unit-specific measure (i.e., complex dressing changes, bedside bronchoscopy, lumbar puncture. Follows Acute Care Code of Conduct. Demonstrates the ability to care for patients in acute medical and post-operative setting. Interprets lab values. Follows critical values P&P for physician notification and documentation. Ready to take report at start of shift. Participates in coaching and counseling sessions, gives criticism to others in private and constructive manner, and accepts criticism in a positive self-development manner. Provides proof of required education and certifications to the Education Project Coordinator. Provides report using Kardex / standardized SBAR report. Accurately assesses assigned patients of pertinent systems. Completes admission assessment, shift assessment and updates as patient's condition changes, as per protocol. Knowledge / Use of equipment : Demonstrates ability to use equipment (i.e., IV controller / pump, wall suction / pleurovac, wall / tank O2, crash cart, ambu bag, k-pad, cardiac monitor PCA pump, patient bed, end tidal CO2 monitor). Complies with all Skagit Regional Health policies and procedures. Performs other duties as assigned.

Education

RN required, BSN preferred. Knowledge of fundamentals of nursing practice and medical surgical and / or critical care nursing.

Experience / Training

Knowledge of the fundamentals of nursing practice.

License / Certifications

Washington State RN License required. American Heart Association Healthcare Provider BLS required. American Heart Association ACLS and PALS or PEARS required within 12 months of hire. Current NIHSS required within 6 months of hire.

Other Skills

Demonstrates ability and appropriate technical skills when administering treatments and procedures in accordance with physician's orders and policies and procedures. Demonstrates ability to handle emergency situations in a prompt, precise, and professional manner. Provides personal patient care to provide comfort and well-being to the patient, acknowledging physiological and psychological needs. Strong verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills required.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. This position is very active and requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, and climbing all day. The employee must frequently lift or move objects and patients weighing over 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to focus.

Skagit Regional Health offers a comprehensive benefit package including medical, dental, vision, 457b / 401a (retirement), long term disability, and paid time off to all employees holding an FTE of 20 or more hours per week. Eligible employees also receive sick time pay.