Clinical Nurse (Inpatient)

PLEASE NOTE - This position may require temporarily relocation to other TONHC Facilities: Sells Hospital, Santa Rosa Health Center, San Simon Health Center, and San Xavier Health Center.

Position Summary:

Incumbent provides comprehensive nursing care to acutely ill medical, obstetric, and pediatric patients of the Tohono O'odham Nation Health Care Sells Hospital.

Scope of Work: This position is within the Tohono O'odham Nation Health Care at the Sells Hospital in the Division of Nursing Services as assigned. This position involves providing direct care to patients in hospitals. In addition, the employee is assigned to the inpatient unit and works under the general supervision of the Supervisory Clinical Nurse.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: (Depending on the area of assignment, an incumbent may not be required to perform some of the duties listed below):

• Under the Supervisory Nurse Specialist's direction, the RN provides comprehensive nursing care to acutely ill and long-term or medical, obstetric, and pediatric patients.
• Observes patients ' changing conditions to formulate and update plans for care consistent with recognized nursing standards and in accordance with prescribed medical treatments.
• Record all patient care in the electronic health record and other data relevant to the patient's care accurately, efficiently, and timely.
• Share all appropriate clinical measures, pertinent patient information with the inpatient care team.
• Consult with Charge RN or provider on all unusual findings to determine an appropriate plan of care.
• Interpret data obtained from observations, examinations, monitored findings, and lab values.
• Discriminates between normal and abnormal findings and provides appropriate care interventions established by licensure, standards of practice, and clinic Proactive in communicating with the multidisciplinary care team members in assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating care needs.
• Administer prescribed oral medications, hypodermic injections, Intravenous (IV) fluid, blood transfusions, and oxygen therapy.
• Performs intravenous cannula insertion for IV therapy and venipuncture for blood draws.
• Prepares, administers, and monitors prescribed IV medications, utilizing the regulatory infusion pumps as appropriate.
• Supervises the serving of meals and nourishments and ensures that dietary needs are met for each patient.
• Perform nursing procedures such as nasal-pharyngeal and gastric suction, the insertion of an NG tube, urinary catheterization, chest physical therapy, non-stress test, fetal monitoring,
• Ensure patient data collection and documentation, including temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, intake and output, medication effects, and subjective and objective symptoms.
• As appropriate, report all pertinent information to the Medical Officer, Charge Nurse, Nurse Specialist, and inpatient Nursing Coordinator.
• Supervise the preparation of patients for tests, examinations, treatments, and surgery.
• Prepares and reviews records for completeness and performs necessary patient teaching.
• Utilizes diversified professional concepts and practices while performing procedures, treatments, and tasks related to specialty areas, such as orthopedics, neurosurgery, pediatrics, urology, neurology, hematology, oncology,
• Ensure consults and referrals follow through a system for approval and appointments are scheduled in a timely manner.
• Participates in discharge planning by assessing patient needs, making necessary referrals, and involving the family in the process.
• Complies and Participates with mandatory educational programs, unit in-services, and staff meetings.
• Participates in committees such as infection control, quality council, and safety as assigned.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the Tohono O'odham culture, customs, and traditions.
• Knowledge of professional nursing principles, practices, concepts, and procedures applied to ambulatory Care and the Inpatient Department.
• Knowledge and experience in anatomy and physiology, basic pathophysiology, and the ability to work independently in completing nursing care assignments.
• Skill and ability to utilize a standardized body of knowledge to provide patient care for the critically ill; pre-natal; post-partum; pediatric; internal medicine; and other patients.
• Knowledge of procedural and treatment techniques of Basic life support and ability to provide expert assistance to the physician performing the procedures.
• Knowledge of the biological aspects of the disease process and illness to recognize complications and therapeutic interventions required.
• Knowledge of pharmaceuticals to recognize desired effects, side effects, and complications of their use.
• Knowledge of effective teaching methods in planning, developing, evaluating, and implementing patient education.
• Knowledge of patient care services provided by other clinical units and other patient care services: (i.e., pharmacy, dental, CSR, and community resources).
• Knowledge of the accreditation process and standards; legal and ethical aspects of professional nursing; the Performance Improvement Process, Infection Control standards and Safety standards.
• Knowledge of health records and ability to accurately and completely document related clinical data.
• Knowledge of diabetes and how it affects mental health.
• Knowledge of the use of the Electronic Health Record, proficient in computer usage.
• Knowledge of a full range of established nursing concepts, principles, and practices to perform professional assignments of moderate difficulty.
• Knowledge of HIPAA-related rules and regulations.
• Skill required to develop Nursing Care Plans to meet the individual needs of patients with consideration of physical, emotional, social, and cultural factors through the life span continuum.
• Skill in the use of various medical equipment in the care of the patient.
• Skill in providing superior customer service to external and internal customers.
• Skill in providing care in reacting promptly to emergency situations.
• Ability to react appropriately to stressful situations and exercise emotional control, tact, patience, and reliability in inpatient care.
• Ability to analyze various medical procedures' results and translate them into appropriate nursing actions, i.e., react promptly in emergencies, including implementing life-saving procedures.
• Ability to communicate and interact with various personnel (tribal staff, other health care professionals, individuals in the community) of varying function, levels of knowledge, and care requirements to provide optimal care for the patient population.
• Ability to be compassionate and have good communication skills.
• Ability to carry out instructions furnished in verbal or written format.
• Ability to communicate efficiently and effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Degree or diploma from a professional nursing program approved by the legally designated State Accrediting agency at the time the program was completed by the applicant.

Licenses, Certifications, Special Requirements:

• One (1) year of experience in Inpatient Care is preferred.
• Must have an active, current, and unrestricted license as a professional nurse in a State, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a United States territory.
• Must have a current Healthcare Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support certification is preferred upon hire or obtained within six (6) months of employment.
• Must have a current immunization statement to include proof of a non-reactive tuberculosis skin test within the last year, proof of immunity for Hepatitis B (Documentation of immunization does not prove immunity, only a titer with a positive result is proof), within three months of hire.
• Upon recommendation for hire, a criminal background and a National FBI fingerprint check are required to determine suitability for employment, including a 39-month driving record.
• May require possessing and maintaining a valid driver's license (no DUIs or major traffic citations within the last three years).
• If required, must meet the Tohono O'odham Nation tribal employer's insurance requirements to receive a driver's permit to operate program vehicles.
• Based on the department's needs, incumbents may be required to demonstrate fluency in both the Tohono O'odham language and English as a condition of employment.