Overview

Job Summary:

 Demonstrates through behavior Decatur Morgan Hospital’s mission, vision and values.

Additionally, the registered nurse is responsible for the delivery of patient care using the nursing processes of assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating care.  Also directs and guides patient care activities of ancillary personnel while maintaining standards of professional nursing.  Cooperates and communicates well with all health team members to maintain the highest quality patient care.  The Charge Nurse is responsible for planning and coordinating the daily operations, providing effective leadership that complements and extends the role of the Director.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities / Essential Functions

1.     Assess patient health problems and needs

2.   Develop and implement care plans

3.   Understand and utilize the nursing process to deliver direct patient care to acutely ill patients

4.   Administer medications and intravenous infusions

5.   Provide effective patient and family education

6.   Maintain medical records

7.   Supervise and oversee the work of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nursing assistants, and unit secretaries

8.  Effectively and efficiently manage the daily operations of the nursing unit

Qualifications

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, Experience Required:

• Uses common sense and special medical skills to care for the sick
• Understands technical information from supervisors, charts, reference books, manuals and labels
• Uses eyes, ears, hands and fingers with skill
• Acts quickly in an emergency, rendering appropriate life-saving measures
• Communicates with people
• Change from one duty to another frequently
• Follow and/or give precise instructions
• Records and interprets information accurately
• Able to care for patients of all ages
• Demonstrates leadership skill / ability
• Current in BLS and ACLS

 Reasoning, Mathematical and Language Development are indicative of the general level of development required to do this job.  Some, but not necessarily all, areas mentioned in this section will be included in this job.

Reasoning Development:                                

Apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.  Deals with several abstract and concrete variables.

 Mathematical Development:

Practical application of fractions, percentages, ratio and proportion in addition to basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division abilities.

 Language Development:          

Reading: Read scientific and technical journals, abstracts, and financial reports.  Records data via paper and electronic means. 

 Speaking:

Communicates verbally using effective voice tone, diction and medical terminology.

RELATIONSHIPS TO DATA, PEOPLE AND THINGS:

 Data:                           

Gathers, complies and classifies information about patients and other people.  Analyzes and interprets data to carry out plan of care for the patient.

 People:                       

Speaking, hearing, talking with people to convey or exchange information.  Includes giving directions to staff, patients, families and/or visitors.

 Things:                                      

Manual dexterity: Use of body members or special devices to work, and perform functions pertinent to accomplishment of job assignment.

Education:  Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.  Possesses a nursing license in good standing in the State of Alabama

Experience: A minimum of two years clinical experience in the specialty setting i.e. Med/Surg, Critical Care etc.