RN - Emergency Department - PRN

GENERAL SUMMARY

The staff RN is a professional practitioner who functions as both a care giver and care manager.  In the care giver role, the RN assumes responsibility for a group of patients for a designated time frame implementing the Nursing Process and therapeutic use of self.  In role of care manager, the RN directs and oversees supervision, validation, and evaluation.

GIBSON AREA HOSPITAL & HEALTH SERVICES MISSION STATEMENT

To provide personalized, professional healthcare services to the residents of the communities we serve.

PRINCIPLE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Performs assessment/data collection in an ongoing and systematic manner, focusing on physiologic, cognitive status.
2. Formulates or individualizes a predefined, goal directed standard of initiating priority nursing/diagnoses/patient care problems and pre-established physiologic and cognitive patient outcome.
3. Implements care in a knowledgeable, skillful, consistent and continuous manner by utilization of/adherence to pre-determined standards which define the structure, process and desired patient outcomes of nursing process.
4. Evaluates effectiveness of self, care given by all health care team members, and contribution of systems, environment, and instrumentation in progressing patients toward desired outcomes.
5. Demonstrates competency in select psychomotor skills adhering to predefined written procedures.
6. Identifies patient learning needs, readiness for learning, instruction and patient teaching in meeting patient self care needs as defined in standards of care and patient teaching protocols.
7. Performs documentation responsibilities following all existing structure standards and guidelines for forms used in the Division of Nursing and specially assigned clinical areas.
8. Demonstrates awareness and sensitivity to patient’s rights, as identified within the institution.
9. Functions with an awareness of and adherence to safety requirements as identified in existing standards.
10. Performs efficiently in emergency patient situations following established protocols, remaining calm, informing appropriate persons, and documenting events.
11. Demonstrates applied knowledge base, in areas of structure standards, patient care recourses/references, protocols, pertinent drugs, standards of care, and significant lab values.
12. Demonstrates an awareness of self responsibility, & accountability for own professional practice within the Illinois Practice Act. 
13. Participates actively in staff development activities, sharing knowledge with others and using appropriate teaching/learning strategies to assist peers.
14. Demonstrates awareness of legal issues in all aspects of professional practice and patient care and strives to manage situations in a reduced-risk manner.
15. Seeks validation of knowledge base, skill level, and decision making as necessary and assertively requests guidance in areas of question. 
16. Participates in development and attainment of Unit and Department of Nursing goals.
17. Participates in standards at both generic and unit specific levels, demonstrates an attitude of acceptance/importance of standards in all professional practice, strives to achieve minimum compliance levels, and uses evidence based practice measures with sound clinical judgment.
18. Actively involves self in quality assessment activities at the generic and unit levels through use of data sources and compliance peer review monitoring.
19. Demonstrates appropriate delegation of patient care activities in the direction of health care team members and functions effectively to supervise assigned coworkers, implementing required validation techniques.
20. Demonstrates willingness and ability to effectively coordinate patient care/unit activities among nursing peers and between nursing, physicians, and support services as a care manager and patient advocate.
21. Demonstrates effective organization and priority setting abilities in using self, human, and material resources in a time oriented and cost efficient manner.
22. Demonstrates effective verbal and written communication skills by implementing existing communication methods (i.e. staff meetings, communication boards, etc.) and attempting to receive and give information in a timely, concise, clear and positive manner.
23. Formulates and promotes use of effective working relationships with all health care team members, patients, and families.
24. Demonstrates appropriate use of lines of authority in clinical and operational matters when seeking direction, validating self decision making, and resolving problematic issues.
25. Remains flexible in staffing patterns and resolution of staffing conflicts; participates in temporary assignment measures in division of nursing.
26. Demonstrates problem identification skills using existing QI tools/methods; demonstrates sound clinical and operational decision making ability based on current Standards and resulting in prompt action/resolution.
27. Demonstrates an attitude of seeking knowledge and rationale for actions and shows ability to apply theory/data to the clinical setting.

PHYSICAL/EMOTIONAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Visual acuity to observe patient assessment data and use manual/automated documentation tools.
2. Auditory acuity to hear patient verbal communication and gather data using auscultatory skills.
3. Manual dexterity of hands and feet to ambulate 8-12 hours per shift adroitly manage multiple pieces of equipment/tubes/invasive lines.
4. Physical strength to perform the following lifting tasks:

• Floor to waist - 40 pounds
• 14” to waist  - 50 pounds
• Waist to shoulder - 20 pounds
• Shoulder to overhead - 10 pounds
• Carry 40 pounds 30 feet
• Push 40 pounds/force 30 feet
• Pull 40 pounds/force 10 feet
• Carry 20 pounds away from body 30 feet

1. Must demonstrate judgment/decision making skills needed to determine if assistance is needed for lifting or repositioning patients.
2. Must be able to follow verbal and written instructions.
3. Possess an interested and empathetic attitude toward caring for the patients and families seeking care and services at the GAHHS ED.
4. Keen mental faculties to perform assessment and decision making skills in the management of acutely ill patients.
5. Communication/speaking/enunciation skills to receive and give information in person and by telephone.
6. Demonstrates emotional stability conducive to dealing with stressful situations associated with an acute care department including but not limited to fast paced physical activity, rapidly changing patient conditions, emotional demands of patients and their families, and demands of maintaining effective working relationships with peers, managers, physicians, and other health care workers.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP

     Reports to the Director of Emergency Department.  

EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

1. Graduation from NLN accredited school of nursing.
2. BSN preferred with a current Illinois licensure.
3. Appropriate nursing practice/experience (in past 3 years) or evidence of successful refresher program.

INFECTION EXPOSURE RISK LEVEL

Category 1 - Maximal Risk – this job exposes you to potential blood, body fluids, and tissues on a routine basis. It is recommended that you get the Hepatitis B Vaccine.             

WORKING CONDITIONS

1. Works in patient care areas where there are few discomforts due to dust, dirt, noise and the like.                                                

2.  Works with patients and may be exposed to contagious diseases or  infectious materials, but potential for personal harm and injury is limited  when proper safety and health precautions and equipment are used.