Overview:
Plans, coordinates and directs quality, compassionate care by maintaining standards of professional nursing practice and creating positive therapeutic relationships with patients/families. Provides leadership to other team members by articulating and delegating expected standards of care, supervising and encouraging team members, and supporting their contributions. Supervises LPNs, PCAs, PCAs/US, US and/or Techs.
Responsibilities:
- Assesses condition on each assigned patient on admission and on an ongoing basis to include but not limited to
- the patient’s physical condition, psychological status, social status, spiritual and cultural needs, pain assessment/management, nutritional and functional status, developmental or age related factors, and discharge planning needs. Specific ages: adolescent, adult and geriatric as defined by scope of service.
- Plans, provides and documents patient and/or significant other education based on physical, behavioral, psychological, developmental, and age-related factors, after identifying barriers to learning.
- Evaluates and regularly reevaluates the nursing needs of the patient; initiates, develops, implements, and makes necessary revisions to the patient’s plan of care according to problems identified.
- Assigns and delegates nursing care to team members in accordance with the patient’s needs and the capabilities of the team members.
- Applies safety principles when performing care and accurately documents observations, care provided and changes in care plan.
- Collaborates and coordinates with physicians and other disciplines regarding individualized patient treatment/care plans by participating in team conferences, care planning/problem identification and team shift reports.
- Assists in performance improvement (PI) activities by serving on PI teams as warranted, assisting with PI measures and supporting and implementing changes necessary for improvement.
- Accurately documents care provided/observations according to policies and procedures.
- Performs initial and annual competency per job class.
DCH Standards:
- Maintains performance, patient and employee satisfaction and financial standards as outlined in the performance evaluation.
- Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook.
- Must adhere to the DCH Behavioral Standards including creating positive relationships with patients/families, coworkers, colleagues and with self.
- Performs essential job functions in a manner that ensures the safety of patients, visitors and employees.
- Identifies and reduces unsafe practices that may result in harm to patients, visitors and employees.
- Recognizes and takes appropriate action to reduce risks and hazards to promote safety for patients, visitors and employees.
- Requires use of electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software and intranet.
- Must adhere to all DCH Health System policies and procedures.
- All other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
Current Alabama RN licensure. Must be able to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English.
WORKING CONDITIONS
WORK CONTEXT
- Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
- Includes exposure to human body fluids, disease, infection, lab chemicals and hazardous materials and/or cleaning solutions. Requires wearing common protective or safety equipment.
- Includes demonstrating leadership skills, delegating to team members, addressing conflict, communicating with all types of personalities, and being responsible for outcomes/results.
PHYSICAL FACTORS
- Ability to tolerate prolonged periods of standing and/or walking.
- Ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
- Must be able to do frequent stooping and on occasion, crouching, crawling or kneeling.
- Ability to reach reasonable distances in any direction.
- Ability to run in emergency situations.
- Must be able to move fingers in a coordinated manner.
- Must have ability to feel and perceive temperature, texture, shape and size with fingertips.
- Requirement:
- Medium work. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
- Able to push stretcher / wheelchair with average adult patient.
- Must be able to perform the duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Hearing and vision must be normal or corrected to within normal range.
- Physical presence onsite is essential.
OTHER JOB FACTORS
- Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
- Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
- Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.