Outpatient Clinic Nurse

Description

Lexington Regional Health Center     

Title: Registered Nurse

Effective Date: October 24, 2021             

Supervisor: Director of Outpatient Services

Department: Outpatient Services

FSLA Status: Non-Exempt

Principle duties and responsibilities

1. Organizes, prepares and conducts clinics for visiting specialists in the outpatient setting. Schedules visiting specialists and helps supervisor with coordination of those clinics. Provides input on clinic logistics to supervisor in order to assure adequate facilities and staffing to accommodate visiting specialty physicians in the clinic setting.
2. Communicates directly with the scheduling staff, the Pre-op Teaching Nurse, the Surgery Department and the Nursing Supervisor to provide coordination of services to ensure excellent care for the outpatient client.
3. Provides efficient, patient-centered care in the outpatient clinic setting, operating within the accepted scope of practice for a Registered Nurse.
4. Works with specialty physicians and their staff to identify necessary medical equipment and supplies to conduct efficient clinic services. Communicates these needs to supervisor.
5. Serves as a liaison and advocate for the patient, communicating between the visiting specialty physicians and the primary care providers when necessary.
6. Works to ensure that the Specialty Clinic patient’s questions and requests are sufficiently addressed. Communicates to the supervisor if patient or physician concerns or conflicts arise. 
7. Works to promote the visiting specialists’ and hospital’s services to the region.
8. Represents the facility accurately, honestly, and acts with integrity and in the best interest of the facility while practicing by the mission and vision.
9. Maintains harmonious relationships within the department and among coworkers, providing support and assistance to co-workers to ensure quality patient care.
10. Delegates through the appropriate scope of practice.
11. Communicates with providers in regard to patient status, the result of diagnostic tests, changes in assessments etc.
12. Prepares patients for and assists with exams and treatments.
13. Supervises less skilled nursing healthcare personnel.
14. Follows all facility policies and procedures.
15. Participates in patient care activities that could include blood exposure and risk to bloodborne pathogens (eg: lacerations, handling of blood-contaminated specimens, etc.)  
16. Responsible for safe bagging and disposal of biohazardous waste. 
17. Responsible for ensuring the patient care environment meets appropriate governing body standards.
18. Responsible for proper collection, storage and labeling of biological specimens.
19. Ensure patients and visitors follow current infection control guidelines.
20. Responsible for following safe-injection practices.  
21. Maintain patient and staff safety through the use of patient safety tools (TeamSTEPPS, Just Culture, etc.).
22. Communicates with multidisciplinary team to ensure patient-centered holistic care.
23. Serves on the shared governance committee. 
24. Regular attendance at the assigned work location is required.
25. Performs all other duties as assigned.

Minimum knowledge, skills, and abilities

1. Knowledge and understanding of nursing theory and practice, including pharmacological agents and the ability to administer all medications – oral, subcutaneous, intramuscular and intravenous. Knowledge of the growth and development of a variety of patients in order to meet the health care needs of the neonate, pediatric, adult and geriatric patient. Knowledge of reading, spelling, grammar, writing, math and computer operation as is typically acquired through the completion of a Registered Nurse Degree or Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from an accredited school.
2. Must hold a current active Registered Nurse license from the State of Nebraska or approved compact state of residence as defined by the Nebraska Nurse Practice Act
3. Current Basic Life Support via American Heart Association required. 
4. Ability to maintain strict confidentiality with regard to protected and sensitive information.
5. Ability to complete reports and correspondence at a professional level.
6. Ability to immediately respond to common inquiries and complaints from patients, employees, and regulatory agencies.
7. Ability to effectively communicate with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
8. Successful completion of required knowledge and training of standard precaution and transmission protocols and when to apply during principle duties and responsibilities. 

Working conditions

1. Works in a normal patient care environment with little exposure to excessive noise, dust, temperature, etc.
2. Worker may spend up to 75% of shift completing patient care activities, requiring ambulating and an appropriate body position to complete a task such as squatting or kneeling to help assist patient with dressing. Rest of shift may be spent completing paperwork or computer work for documentation. Transferring patients occasionally to frequently, depending on case load, requires lift of 35 pounds to assist in transfers. A hoyer lift, sit-to-stand lift, or extra assistance may be needed on patients that require extra assist in transfers above the 35 pounds. Wheelchairs require up to 40 horizontal force pounds to transport patients up to 300 feet. Shelves are required to be stocked from 4 inches off floor to 77 inches high and a step stool may be required to reach the highest shelves. IV bags weighing 7 pounds are lifted up to variable heights over head to be attached to IV poles. Crash cart requires 20 horizontal force pounds to transport up to 150 feet in emergency situations. Auto CPR device weighs 25 pounds and is used in emergency situations to be transported up to 200 feet from ER to patient room. In emergency situations, nurse may be required to get onto floor to perform CPR or other emergent patient care.
3. Exposure to chemicals and other hazards related to patient care. Appropriate safety precautions, such as safety glasses, gloves, etc. must be used to minimize risk of injury.
   
4. Direct exposure to body substances during patient care activities and on contaminated surfaces such as patient equipment. 

Management responsibilities

1. None

The above is intended to describe the general content of the requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements. In no way does this job description, constitute a contract, implied or otherwise.