JOB SUMMARY

Works under the supervision of the unit Supervisor/Manager/Director. A registered professional nurse is responsible for the delivery of patient care through the nursing process of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation. She/he is responsible for direction and guidance of patient teaching and activities of ancillary personnel while maintaining standards of professional nursing and the policies and operating instructions of Memorial Healthcare. Strives for superior performance by consistently providing a product of service to leadership and staff that is recognized as ultimately contributing to the patient and family experience. As a customer-focused Memorial Healthcare team member, he/she must be accessible, flexible, knowledgeable, and responsive.

PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Demonstrates job related aspects of patient safety to assure a safe environment, safe and effective use of equipment and technology, and decreased risk of potential adverse patient occurrences.

• Demonstrates knowledge of and supports hospital mission, vision, value statements, standards, policies and procedures, operating instructions, confidentiality statements, corporate compliance plan, customer service standards, and standards of behavior.

• Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of patients served on his/her assigned unit. Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the unit's and division's policies and procedures.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Graduate from an accredited school of nursing or anticipated graduation within 4 months of hire date.

• RN license from Michigan or must successfully complete NCLEX within 6 months of graduation date. There is a maximum of three attempts to complete the NCLEX with the 6 month time frame.

• Related experience preferred, not required.

• Current certification in AHA-BLS for Healthcare Providers required or obtain within 2 weeks of hire.

• Departmental specific requirements as outlined in Attachment A.

• Able to travel independently throughout all Memorial Healthcare facilities.

• Standing/Walking: Standing and walking is required for the majority of time spent in the clinical area. Standing in one position is required while performing certain aspects of patient care.

• Sitting: Sit while charting or entering data into a computer. One may also sit while receiving/giving verbal reports at the start/end of one's shift. Employees will intermittently sit throughout the day, depending on clinical assignment.

• Lifting: Regular lifting of medical supplies, medications, patient supplies, and patient charts, which weighing up to ten pounds is required. Also lifting CPR equipment and other medical equipment weighing up to 45 pounds is required. It is required to assist in lifting and transferring patients of varying weights and is expected to request assistance when lifting, ambulating, and repositioning patients. One must be able to support at least 75 pounds to reposition, transfer, and ambulate patients safely.

• Carrying: Frequent carrying of medical supplies and other items weighing up to 45 pounds is required, along with occasional carrying of certain medical equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.

• Pushing/Pulling: Pushing/pulling 70-100 pounds is required when administering patient therapy and care, as well as when pushing equipment such as oxygen tanks and monitors, and when transporting patients in wheelchairs, beds or gurneys. When administering CPR, enough force to compress the chest 1.5 to 2 inches, which requires 100 to 125 pounds of force. Full manual dexterity of both upper extremities is required.

• Climbing: No significant climbing is required; one may be required to climb a step stool.

• Bending: Bending is required when administering patient care. One must be able to bend to touch the floor to remove environmental hazards.

• Reaching: Reaching above one's head is required when performing aspects of care such as hanging and adjusting IV bags.

• Squatting/Kneeling: Squatting or kneeling is required when operating medical equipment and performing aspects of patient care, such as CPR.

• Twisting: Twisting at the waist is required when bathing patients and performing other procedures.

• Hearing: One must have normal hearing (aids permitted) in order to perform physical assessments, including listening with a stethoscope for bowel, heart, and lung sounds. One must also be able to hear to detect subtle, yet critical information regarding patient conditions including alarms, and to communicate with physicians and other professionals involved in patient care.

• Visual Acuity: Vision is required within normal limits (glasses or contacts permitted) for monitoring equipment, reading medical data, preparing and administering medications and injections, and performing physical assessments of patients including subtle changes in color.

• Depth Perception: Required for fine tasks such as administering injections, sterile catheter insertions (urinary, IV), nasogastric tube insertions.

• Fine Motor Skills: One must have fine motor skills of all fingers and be able to grasp and control medical equipment, and to perform precise procedures such as sterile dressing changes. Ability to grasp objects such as a pen to prepare handwritten reports is also required.

• Tactile Sensation: One must be able to assess patients through palpation with fingers and hands, and must be able to distinguish between warm/cold and be able to feel vibrations.

• Smell: One must have normal sense of smell to detect odors indicating unsafe conditions or changing patient status.

• Proficiency using computer applications, telephone and including technical equipment used by Memorial Healthcare.

• Ability to enter clinical documentation using electronic medical records (EMR) charting.

• Ability to adapt and maintain focus in fast paced, quickly changing or stressful situations.

• Ability to read and interpret a variety of documents including, but not limited to policies, operating instructions, white papers, regulations, rules and laws.

• Complete a history and head-to-toe initial assessment of patient’s condition for multiple systems.

• Formulate a care plan based upon the assessment and to evaluate patients' reactions to the care plan.

• Understand doctor’s orders.

• Document assessment, interventions, and evaluation.

• Calculate medication dosages and IV rates.

• Function well under pressure.

• Able to see for the purpose of reading information received in formats including but not limited to paper, computer, reports, bulletins, updates, manuals.

• Able to see and hear for work-related purposes.

• Communicate receptively and expressively in English, both written and verbal, with diverse populations, including physicians, patients, families, community agencies, employees, and volunteers.

• Visually assess patient's condition and to auscultate lung, heart, bowel sounds, etc. and palpate as needed for assessment or treatment.

• Accurately hear communication by phone or in person.

• Maintain self-control.

• Maintain confidentiality.

• Ability to interact with co-workers, hospital staff, administration, patients, physicians, the public and all internal and external customers in a professional and effective, courteous and tactful manner, at all times, physically, verbally and in all written and electronic communication.

• Required to remain calm when adversity is encountered.

• Open, honest, and tactful communication skills.

• Ability to work as a team member in all activities.

• Positive, cooperative and motivated attitude.