The newly remodeled Pediatric Emergency Department is designated as a certified pediatric advanced prepared emergency center, consisting of 14 private beds. Our department is located in between the inpatient pediatric unit and the Pediatric ICU, which facilitates a great working relationship amongst the pediatric service line.
In our department, we see approximately 30,000 patients a year with a wide range of chief complaints from sore throats and lacerations to SI/HI, overdoses, fractures with reductions at the bedside, respiratory distress, and full codes. We work together as a team consisting of physicians, midlevel providers, registered nurses, medics, patient care techs, and a unit clerk. All nurses in the department are dedicated pediatric nurses and are required to have BLS, ACLS, PALS, CPI, and ENPC Certifications. All RNs are required to have 8 CEUs a year to maintain our designation.
SUMMARY:
Coordinates patient care planning with other disciplines utilizing the principles of the nursing process and critical thinking skills in order to maintain patient safety and well-being.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
• Provides direct patient care, evaluates outcomes, consults with other specialists as required, and adjusts nursing care processes as indicated to ensure safe patient care. • Writes or obtains initial nursing histories, assesses patients conditions, and develops individual care plans; maintains patient documentation. • Receives and reviews preceding shift reports and floor nurse reports; makes complete rounds of all units, and notes patients conditions. • Notifies appropriate physician regarding any unusual or unexpected events or problems requiring direct physician consultation. • Works with other members of the interdisciplinary patient care team, implements and reinforces patient instructional needs with patients and families, offering informational material and pointing out special areas of concern. • Evaluates outcomes of patient care, consults with other specialists as needed, and adjusts nursing care processes as necessary to ensure optimal patient care. • Identifies and resolves workplace health and safety issues. • Provides appropriate, direct patient care utilizing appropriate aseptic techniques. • May manage IV lines, ensures that sterile techniques are adhered to, and oversees patient movement and positioning to ensure that the patient is handled in a medically safe manner. • May perform the administration of pharmacological vasodilator medications for the purpose of nuclear myocardial perfusion imaging; complies with examination competency as defined in the Imaging Services Practice Standards. • Complies with policies, procedures, regulations, and standards and takes corrective action when violations occur. • Orients, instructs, and educates assigned personnel. • Adheres to and supports team members in exhibiting TMCH values of integrity, community, compassion, and dedication. • Adheres to TMCH organizational and department-specific safety, confidentiality, values, policies, and standards. • Performs related duties as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
• Education: Bachelor's degree preferred. • Experience: One year of nursing experience in an acute care setting preferred. (Positions assigned to EP: require two (2) years of EP experience or demonstrated competency in all areas of EP Lab procedures). • Licensure or Certification: Current RN licensure permitting work in the State of Arizona and Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required. Additional certification may be required per department.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
• Knowledge of direct patient care and critical care procedures and techniques, tools, and responses required to ensure optimal patient care. • Knowledge of exam indicators, contraindications, and patient preparation. • Skill in communicating in a clear and concise manner with staff involved in critical care, and physicians to ensure the proper care of patients. • Skill in reading 12-lead EKG. • Skill demonstrated in assigned disciplines such as EP, directly involved in patient care. • Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. • Ability to complete routine reports and correspondence. • Ability to listen and accurately interpret others communication or instructions to take appropriate action. • Ability to speak and communicate effectively. • Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. • Ability to interpret an extensive variety of instructions and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. • NICU only: Ability to provide family-centered developmentally appropriate care of newborns. Ability to handle the emotional stress associated with caring for a critically ill newborn or neonate. Ability to formulate a plan of care and support multidisciplinary collaboration.