Job summary:

Provides professional nursing care to assigned patients utilizing the nursing process, within established standards and practices for assigned patients.

Essential functions:

1. Provides direct patient care, evaluates outcomes, consults with other specialists as required and adjusts nursing care processes to ensure optimal patient care as indicated.

2. Performs a head-to-toe assessment on all patients and re-assessments as per policy.

3. Provides individualized, age-specific care that supports homeostatic regulation, hemodynamic monitoring, and physiologic functioning.

4. Maintains accurate and continued nursing documentation including patient histories, conditions, treatments, responses, and assessment of changes.

5. Treats patients and their families with respect and dignity. Maintains patient confidentiality. Identifies and addresses psychosocial, cultural, ethnic, and religious/spiritual needs of patients and families. Functions as patient advocate.

6. Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and the skills necessary to provide age-appropriate care to the patients served. Able to interpret data about the patient’s status to identify each patient’s age specific needs and provide care needed by the patient group.

7. Interacts professionally with patient and family and involves patient and family in the formation of an individualized and mutually agreed upon plan of care. Reviews/revises/updates/resolves plan of care daily.

8. Formulates a teaching plan based on identified learning needs and evaluates the effectiveness of learning; includes family in teaching, as appropriate.

9. Supervises other health care staff involved in patient care. Allocates and monitors the work of others.

10. Demonstrates the ability to assist physicians with procedures in the department.

11. Responds promptly to changes in workload as necessary to achieve optimal productivity and efficiency.

12. Participates in the development, implementation, and evaluation of performance improvement activities to improve patient outcomes, processes, and the work of the environment.

13. Functions as a preceptor to orient new employees.

14. Enhances professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, current literature, in-service meeting, staff meetings, and workshops; shows responsibility for own professional practice and on-going education.

15. Maintains operation of patient care equipment to include mechanical adjustments. Ensures an adequate stock of supplies and the proper functioning of equipment. Assists in cost containment through the appropriate ordering and conserving of supplies and equipment.

16. Demonstrates an ability to be flexible, organized and function under stressful situations.

17. Meets all departmental specific competencies.

18. Performs housekeeping duties when needed.

19. Assists with transportation of patients when needed.

20. Adheres to dress code.

21. Adheres to medical center policies addressing infection control, safety, and personnel guidelines.

22. Performs other related duties as assigned or requested.

23. Serves as team leader and role model for other staff members.