RN, Stroke/Rapid Response

Summary

The Registered Nurse is responsible for identifying the patient's alterations in health, assessing the patient's human response to actual and potential health problems, implementing nursing interventions based on theoretical concepts from nursing and other arts and sciences to achieve desired outcomes for the patient that facilitate resolution of alterations in health and actual and potential health problems. The RN determines the effectiveness of nursing interventions by evaluating outcomes in relation to evidenced-based intervention. The Registered Nurse functions within the scope and standards of nursing as defined by the American Nurses Association and the Nurse Practice Act of Virginia.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

These duties and responsibilities described below represent the general tasks performed on a daily basis; other tasks may be assigned.

• Complete a comprehensive nursing assessment based on admission nursing history and appropriate standard of care/protocol
• Collect/gather available data and make knowledgeable interpretations and appropriate nursing diagnosis
• Initiate and update the standard of care within established time frames; routinely utilizes this plan as the basis for nursing care and documentation
• Plan, provide, and document individual patient/family teaching and evaluate understanding
• Initiate and implement a plan for discharge upon admission and throughout the hospitalization
• Continual data collection, storage, and submission duties, as well as ongoing program maintenance for certification process; the certification process requires continual data collection and analysis, as well as process improvement/quality improvement commitment to ensure that the JCAHO stroke care standards are being met consistently
• Serve as a liaison between the bedside nurse, the primary team, and the ICU/ER team fostering communication, education, and expedited critical decision making to improve patient outcome
• Will assist in the care of all emergency initiated Stroke/Rapid Response Team alerts; treatment is to be initiated based on the patients' condition as stated in the Rapid Response Team policy
• Continual data collection, storage, and submission duties are required for all Rapid Response Team occurrences for performance improvement.
• Organize and reprioritize work based on staff needs, patients' needs, available resources, and unit requirements
• Actions demonstrate a theoretical knowledge base and critical thinking skills
• Demonstrate consistent ability/competence in patient care areas
• Actively solicit feedback from patients and visitors
• Function independently with most procedures/protocols and those, which require assisting a physician
• Recognize limitations and seek the appropriate assistance when needed
• Demonstrate ability to respond to emergency situations
• Document patient care per hospital policy
• Provide a safe environment for patients and visitors
• Contribute to reduction of infections and adhere to infection control guidelines
• Foster spirit of teamwork within assigned area
• Remain available to others when needed, and demonstrate flexibility with staffing and scheduling to ensure safe patient care
• Serve as the role model for professional area of practice
• Assess team member's clinical competency through observation, testing, return demonstration, and evaluation of the occurrences of variances to care standards
• Serve as a mentor and preceptor to students and all new hires
• Serve as a resource for students, LPNs, Float/Flexi Nurses, unlicensed personnel, and new personnel
• Demonstrate constructive and effective relationships with staff, peers and customers
• Maintain positive employee relations and good employee morale
• Emphasize the team approach to work
• Create a culture within the department that rewards cooperation, team work, and collective problem-solving
• Proactively deals with conflict in a timely manner
• Attend required hospital-wide orientations, meetings, and in-services
• Demonstrate a commitment to flexible work scheduling when necessary to ensure patient care

Education and Experience

Minimum Required Education: Successful completion of an accredited Registered Nursing program

Preferred Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Experience: 2 years’ experience in an Intensive Care setting, Emergency Department, and/or Stroke Unit; recent stroke care experience is preferred, but not required

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Applicant must be licensed to work as a Registered Nurse in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and must hold current BLS, ACLS, and PALS certifications.