Purpose

Provides and directs safe, effective, and culturally-competent care for pediatric through aging adult patients with actual or potential medical health problems. Key accountabilities include assessments, diagnosis, outcomes identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation of care using critical thinking and evidenced-based practice; adherence to the Professional Practice of Standards as defined by ANA; and active participation in performance improvement activities.

Essential Job Functions

• Patient assessment
• Medication administration
• Monitoring vital signs
• Wound care
• Providing patient education
• Collaborating with the healthcare team
• Discharge planning
• Pain management
• Maintaining patient safety

Responsibilities and Duties

• Assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating patient care plans in consultation with healthcare professionals.
• Evaluating medical information, as well as providing direct and individualized bedside nursing care.
• Preparing, administering and recording prescribed medications.
• Changing dressings, inserting catheters, and starting IVs.
• Adjusting specialized medical equipment as needed, as well as interpreting and recording measurements.
• Monitoring patients' vitals and reporting adverse reactions to medications in a timely manner.
• Collaborating on discharge planning with the healthcare team.
• Answering questions and educating patients and their families on plan of care.
• Maintaining and updating patient files, medical charts, and health records.
• Adhering to best nursing practices, standards, and protocols.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Accurate patient assessment including vital signs monitoring
• Skilled wound care management
• Proper medication administration and monitoring
• Basic life support (BLS) and advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) proficiency
• Catheter insertion and management
• Clear and concise patient explanations regarding diagnosis, treatment plans, and procedures
• Effective communication with patients, families, and healthcare team members
• Active listening and empathetic communication
• Critical Thinking and Clinical Judgment:
• Analyzing patient data to identify potential complications and take appropriate action
• Making informed decisions based on clinical knowledge and patient needs
• Adapting care plans based on changing patient conditions
• Teamwork and Collaboration
• Coordinating care with other healthcare professionals like physicians, therapists, and nurses
• Effective handoffs and communication during shift changes
• Collaborating with the healthcare team to optimize patient outcomes
• Patient Safety
• Adhering to infection control protocols
• Implementing fall prevention strategies
• Monitoring for potential complications and taking appropriate actions
• Professionalism:
• Maintaining ethical standards and patient confidentiality
• Demonstrating accountability for own practice
• Commitment to ongoing professional development
• Understanding of various medical conditions commonly seen in a med-surg setting (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, respiratory issues)
• Knowledge of different surgical procedures and post-operative care protocols
• Basic understanding of pharmacology and medication interactions

Supervisory Responsibility

Direction: The job requires some accountability for scheduling, assigning or coordinating work. Employees check the quality of work and provide guidance, instruction, training and direction to others. In addition, the employees may be expected to provide information or suggestions on human resources matter.

Materials Responsibility

Limited: Work requires limited responsibility for material resources. Examples of resources could include

supplies, equipment, inventories, small budgets, and other similar material assists. The employee has a

limited amount of control over these resources. The cost of errors is also limited in terms of damage,

waste, or financial loss. Problem associated with material resources are not complex. The volume of

resource may vary, but the level of difficulty in dealing with these resources is uncomplicated.

Key Relationships

Co-workers/ JCRHC Employees. Outside Agencies/Other Health Care Providers, General Public/Visitors/Volunteers, Physicians/Medical Office Staff, Residents/ Outside Instructors, Patients, Families, and Significant Others

Position Specifications

Education: Associates Degree

Field of Study: Nursing

Special Training: ACLS; BLS; PALS; Dependent Adult/Child Abuse Mandatory Reporter Training within timelines established in Licensure, Registration, Certification and Life Saving training policy.

Training Preferred: Baccalaureate in Nursing

Licensure / Registration: Registered Nurse in Iowa

Interpersonal Skills

Interaction is with a variety of people inside or outside the organization. Communications are of moderate difficulty and sensitivity. Contact with others may involve detailed & lengthy dialogues & exchanges of information. Requires a moderate amount of interpersonal skills. Interactions involve dealing with moderately complicated problem situations or stressful encounters.

Working Conditions

There is a routine exposure to highly adverse environmental conditions including physical hazards, health and safety risks, and otherwise undesirable characteristics in the environment. Personal risks require safety equipment or precautions to be followed closely. The time the employee may be exposed to these conditions in limited to 70% or less of the work day.