Position Summary: Responsible for carrying out patient care in accordance with physicians' orders. Provides for the well-being of patients by assessing condition, providing treatments and administers prescribed drugs and documents progress and other observations in the patient chart. Promotes the optimal health, well-being and safety of the patient through use of the nursing process and in accordance with patient care standards, guidelines and the State Nurse Practice Act. Demonstrates personal accountability for relationship-based care, organizational mission, and core values.

Responsibilities:

• Collects and assesses initial and on-going data about the health status of the patient.
• Initiates and/or revises an individualized plan of care that includes immediate and long-term outcomes for the patient/family and reflects the plan of the entire health care team.
• Carries out interventions safely and in compliance with policy to facilitate achievement of expected outcomes.
• Evaluates patient response to intervention/therapy based upon expected outcomes.
• Provides patient education by explaining procedures, medications and giving instructions at a level the patient can understand; addresses patient’s questions and concerns; verifies patient informed consent when indicated.
• Documents and communicates all required components of patient care.
• Maintains airway management.
• Identifies physical symptoms changes and provides appropriate treatment.
• Demonstrates established techniques of safe administration of medications and parenteral fluids, according to hospital policies and procedures.
• Develop and implement patient plan of care and observe outcomes in accordance with nursing standards and in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team.
• Demonstrate competency in a variety of therapeutic/diagnostic interventions including but not limited to IV’s, incision/wound care, medication administration, catheterization and specimen collections.
• Demonstrates knowledge of anesthetic drugs, actions, and side effects.
• Demonstrates ability to adequately assess and reassess pain.
• Utilizes appropriate pain management techniques.
• Promote, advocate and collaborate to protect the health and safety and rights of each patient.
• Provide patient/family education through assessment of patient/family learning readiness, needs, and ability.
• Provide teaching and evaluate effectiveness of teaching.
• Delegates to non-RN personnel in accordance with State Board of Nursing and hospital policy.
• Effectively uses time, personnel, equipment and supplies to provide high quality, cost effective patient care.
• Manages resources and patient flow through matching nursing competencies with individualized patient’s and unit needs.
• Uses standards of care, hospital policies/procedures and regulatory guidelines to guide practice.
• Function effectively within nursing and inter-professional teams, fostering open communication, mutual respect, and shared decision-making to achieve quality patient care.
• Precepts/mentors new staff or nursing students as needed.
• Seeks out learning opportunities and continuing education.
• Seeks experiences that reflect current practice in order to maintain skills and competence in clinical practice or role performance.
• Use current healthcare research findings and other evidence to expand clinical knowledge, enhance role performance, and increase knowledge of professional issues.
• Maintains professional records that provide evidence of competency and lifelong learning.
• Adapts to rapidly changing technology as evidenced by competency in technology and equipment used in the patient care setting.
• Thorough and confidential maintenance of patient charts and records.
• Document ongoing status, interventions, patient response and outcomes in accurate, timely manner.
• Use information technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision-making. Utilizes initiative; strives to maintain a steady level of productivity; self motivated.
• Organizes and manages activities reflecting due consideration for the needs of the department and staff.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing
• Knowledge of general nursing theory and practice
• Current Registered Nurse (RN) licensure in the State of Kansas or has work permit from the State Board of Nursing
• ACLS and PALS must be completed within 6 months of employment
• BLS certification required or must complete BLS certification with in the first two weeks of employment.
• Valid drivers license with an acceptable driving record and must be insurable through the medical center's insurance carrier.

Preferred:

• Prior experience in specialty field Specialty certification
• BSN

Infection Control: Initial and Ongoing training in dealing with infection control. Trainings could include but are not limited to, blood borne pathogens, bodily fluids and bio hazardous materials as it applies to your daily work environment.

Patient Interaction: Frequent

HIPAA: This position will have access to the following Protected Health Information in order to carry out the duties related to their position at Hays Medical Center based on the following criteria:
Primary – required (routine) to do the job;
Secondary – required for the job, but mostly be exception; and
None – no approved access

Description of Information
Primary:
Patient Demographic Information (information used to identify a person): Name, Date of Birth, Address, Race, Marital Status, Religion

Clinical Information (information that describes a patient’s health status): Diagnosis, Reports/Medical Notes, Test Results, Problem List, Procedures, History and Physical
None:
Coding Information (clinical information that is in (alpha) numeric format): ICD-9 Codes, Rev Codes, CPT Codes

Financial Information/Insurance (information related to insurance, billing and payment): Billing Information, Payer Name, Payer ID, Account Balances, Plan Elements Covered, Payment Information, Payment Rates