SUMMARY
To give direct nursing care for patients under the supervision of the Professional Nurse.
JOB DUTIES
Reports pertinent observations, changes, and reactions regarding patients to the appropriate person.
Notifies team leader, charge person and/or physician of observations regarding patients.
Documentation on patient record of observations, changes and reactions and the reporting of them to the appropriate person.
Communicates patient’s condition to team leader at change of shift.
Conducts “hourly rounds” on assigned patients consistently.
Focus is on safety of patients through fall reduction, restraint reduction and the safe administration of medications.
Cognizant of and addresses the patient’s level of comfort and pain management.
Expresses concern and understanding regarding patient and family satisfaction.
Performs direct patient care using the nursing process and technical skills according to hospital policy and procedure and is evident by both observation and documentation.
Answers call lights and assists patients with personal hygiene and activities of daily living (ADL).
Assists in admitting, transferring and discharging of patients.
Provides for patient’s comfort and safety.
Reports on records all observed symptoms, reactions, treatments and changes in a patient’s condition and is evident by verbal reports and proper utilization of charting procedure.
Recognizes the learning needs of the patient and/or significant other and collaborates with the Professional Nurse in education and rehabilitation and documentation of the learning needs.
Uses appropriate abbreviations.
Response of the patient and/or significant other documentation.
Participates in the development of the patient’s individual nursing care plan under the supervision of the Professional Nurse and continually contributes to the updating of the care plan and is evident by documentation on care plan and patient record.
Demonstrates knowledge of and implements policies and procedures of the hospital and nursing department.
Assists physicians with patient rounds, procedures, and exams and documents on patien's record.
Administers medications, including IV’s according to hospital policy and procedure to assigned patients and documents appropriately on patient record.
Demonstrates competency in IV insertion and tubing change.
Correct use of Pyxis and documentation of wasted narcotics.
Adheres to patient safety goals of medication administration.
Participates in the orientation of new staff and in the clinical experience of students.
Attendance at in-service programs that is required.
Attends continuing education programs outside of the hospital.
Attends unit meetings, other meetings, reads notices and memos.
Participates in nursing service committees.
Special computer skills utilized i.e. proper care plan updating and proper utilization of order entry.
SPECIFIC JOB DEMANDS
Strength: Medium Work - Lifting, Carrying, Pushing, Pulling 20 - 50 Lbs. occasionally, 10 - 25 Lbs. frequently or up to 10 Lbs. constantly.
Stooping: Occasionally - Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist, requiring full use of the lower extremities and back muscles.
Reaching: Frequently - Extending hand(s) or arm(s) in any direction.
Handling: Frequently - Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with hand or hands. Fingers are involved only to the extent that they are an extension of the hand, such as to turn a switch or shift automobile gears.
Fingering: Frequently - Picking, pinching, or otherwise working primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand or arm as in handling.
Feeling: Frequently - Noting attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature, or texture, by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.
Talking: Frequently - Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word to impart oral information to clients or to the public and to convey detailed spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
Hearing: Frequently - Perceiving the nature of sounds by ear. Near Acuity: Frequently - Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less.
Accommodation: Occasionally - Adjustment of lens of eye to bring an object into sharp focus. This factor is required when doing near point work at varying distances from the eye.
Color Vision: Frequently - Ability to identify and distinguish colors.
MINIMUM EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED
Professional knowledge of nursing theory and practice at a level normally acquired through completion of an accredited School of Nursing. Specialty units may have additional requirements according to their policy.
Current State Nursing License.
Communication skills necessary to effectively:
Provide instruction to the patient and/or significant other Provide explanations to the patient and/or significant other Explain nursing intervention.
Communicate with other members of the health team.
Current BLS Healthcare Provider card.
May be required to have current ACLS certification or obtain within six months of assignment, dependent upon departmental requirements.
*The Emergency Department nurse will develop and maintain a level of educational background in the following areas, but not limited to car of the neurologic patient, cardiac patient, pulmonary patient, burn patients, multiple system failure, trauma care obstetrical emergencies, psychiatric emergencies, EENT emergencies. The Emergency Department nurse must demonstrate competency in triaging of emergency patients, as well as age-specific concerns. The Emergency Department nurse requires knowledge of psychosocial, physiological, and therapeutic components specific to the care of the critically ill and/or injured, through on-going educational activities.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Normal patient care environment with little exposure to excessive noise, dust, and temperature changes. A large part of work time is standing or walking.
Subject to certain distasteful patient care activities and exposure to communicable diseases. May be scheduled overtime, weekend and/or holiday hours.
May be exposed to potential hazards such as chemical wastes, body wastes, fluids and other possible infectious material.
DISCLOSURE
MMC commits to review, under the intent of this standard, and in coordination with medical professional opinions and physical demands job analysis performed by certified professionals, an individual’s ability to be reasonably accommodated within the role they are responsible and qualified to perform.
MMC is committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) and providing equal opportunity employment for qualified persons with disabilities. All employment practices and activities are conducted on a nondiscriminatory basis. Meadville Medical Center will follow any state or local law that provides individuals with disabilities greater protection that the ADA.
Every effort has been made to make your job description as complete as possible. However, this in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific tasks does not exclude them from the position if the task is similar, related, or is a logical assignment to the position, or is imperative for patient care and to meet emergency situations.
