• Services: Shall provide Spinal Cord Injury Registered Nurse in accordance with the specifications, terms and conditions listed herein.
• All work performed under this task order will be completed at the Client, Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Service.
• Required:Curriculum Vitae (CV)/Resume of the proposed service providers
• Copy of all current licenses/certifications of proposed service providers and competency checklists
• Three work related references for the providers

POSITION DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Registered Nurse (RN): The RN will utilize their broad-based clinical knowledge to effectively assess, implement health promotion and prevention interventions, manage acute and chronic illness states, assist patients in the attainment of optimal levels of functioning rehabilitation, evaluate patient response to actual or potential health problems, and provide supportive measures for the dying patient and their significant others.
• Nursing care shall be performed in accordance with the American Nursing Association's Standards of Care and Standards of Professional Performance, and within the individual nurse's scope of license.
• The Nurse Manager(s), or appropriate nursing leadership delegate (i.e., Assistant Nurse Manager), will provide the RN with clinical oversight during their tour of duty.
• Qualifications: All RNs must have an Associates or Bachelor's degree (preferred) from an ACEN or CCNE accredited Nursing program.
• Registered Nurses assigned must have a current and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or the District of Columbia and have a current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)/Basic Life Support (BLS) certification by a provider recognized by the American Heart Association.
• RNs must have a minimum of one-year SCI experience or a minimum of two-years Med/Surg experience.
• Ventilator experience is preferred.
• Assigned personnel must be computer literate as patient documentation is directly inputted in the patient's electronic medical record. Proficiency in the use of the Oracle
• Cerner Electronic Health Record system is preferred. Client will provide training on the medical record system if required.

More specific duties and responsibilities of the Registered Nurse are described below.

Maintain patient confidentiality and a safe patient care environment, including familiarity with requirements such as medication administration, patient/family education, discharge process, hazardous waste disposal, etc., as defined by The Joint Commission and all other regulatory bodies.

• Provide patient-centered care by performing the following tasks:Assess the health care needs of the patient and maintain or develop a plan of care to meet interdisciplinary goals
• Assess and act on significant changes in the patient's health condition
• Carry out the plan of care by performing assigning delegated tasks
• Collect and document pertinent data into the electronic patient medical record
• communicates and treats all patients and/or families in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner
• Identify and act on predictable needs of the patient
• Meet the health care needs of patient by assessing and assisting the patient to meet expressed needs
• Meet the emotional and spiritual needs of patients and/or families
• Prioritize and complete tasks within the RN's assigned shift
• Notify assigned physician of any changes in condition and update patient care plans
• Report incidents of verbal or physical abuse immediately to the Nurse Manager of the unit they are assigned; or designated off-shift nursing leadership
• Perform head-to-toe assessment
• Insert IV lines
• Care of PICC lines
• Administer medication including IVs
• Coordinate and participate in admission, transfer, and discharge of patient
• Measure vital signs, including Pain (the 5th Vital Sign), pulse oximetry, etc.
• Complete EKG as needed
• Perform wound care including dressing changes and obtaining wound cultures as necessary
• Obtain and deliver specimens to lab
• Perform tracheostomy care
• Perform non-acute/acute ventilator care, as needed
• Perform suctioning including oral, nasogastric, and tracheostomy
• Assess for and administer tube feedings
• Assist with routine urinary and bowel elimination including indwelling and suprapubic catheters, colostomies, external devices, and digital stimulation
• Educate patients and/or families regarding health and diagnoses and medication administration
• Activate the Emergency Medical Response as indicated based on patient presentation or change in condition
• Respond and assist in an emergency situation
• Perform Continuous Protective Observation (CPO) duties to maintain veteran safety
• Perform patient belongings and Contraband inspection and documentation as outlined by facility policy
• Provide clinical oversight to Licensed Practical Nurses and Certified Nursing Assistants and Health Technicians
• Rapid Response and Cardiac Arrest (code) response within the unit.
• Accu-checks
• Business Hours Nursing services are provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Work Schedule

a. Contract nursing services shall supplement full time Client staff.

• Coverage may include holidays weekends, evenings, or overnights, and are variable within a 24-hour period.
• The most common RN shifts are noted below; however, contract RNs should be open to working any day of the week or shift as required by the Client, even if not specifically listed below.

PM Shift

(2) RNs - (12) hour shift 7:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., to include weekends and holidays

Night Shift

(2) RNs - (12) hour shift 7:30 p.m. – 8:00 a.m., to include weekends and holidays

• Overtime may be necessary and is applicable for anything over 40 hours in a one week pay period worked at the Client.
• Overtime must be pre-approved by the Nurse Manager and will not be allowed for contractor staff to complete charting in the medical record.
• All patient documentation must be completed prior to leaving for the day. The 12-hour shifts include a mandatory ½ hour non-paid lunch break.
• If patient care needs prevent the ability to take a 30-minute lunch, the Nurse Manager must be notified during the said shift to provide coverage or authorize no lunch.