Under the supervision of the Inpatient Services Director and RN House Supervisor, the Registered Nurse provides direct and indirect patient care, assessing nursing care needs as well as planning and providing nursing care interventions, preventing complications and promoting improvement in the patients’ comfort and wellness; informing the interdisciplinary team of patients’ condition as appropriate. Provides supervision to the nursing staff regarding patient care. All efforts are directed towards continuous quality improvement and family centered care. May be utilized as a charge nurse, preceptor or code team member.
JOB FUNCTIONS
Essential job duties:
1. Provide leadership to ensure that important processes and activities are measured, assessed and improved systematically, interdepartmentally, and intradepartmental.
2. Participates in interdisciplinary, interdepartmental performance improvement activities.
3. Provide leadership and guidance to ensure departmental staff receive, when appropriate, continuous orientation and training in performance improvement activities and adherence in all hospital safety related requirements.
4. Adheres to the General Performance Standards of Practice.
5. Assesses patients; determines nursing diagnosis; plans, implements and evaluates patient care upon admission and throughout hospitalization. The assessment must include biophysical, psychosocial, environmental, self-care, education and discharge planning factors incorporating data from the patient and or family when appropriate, in collaboration n with the case manager.
6. Delivers nursing care to the patient based on the assessment of their needs.
7. Documents current patient status, the care given to the patient and the progress, response and outcome of his/her care and the activities of the day on the nursing care flow sheet and progress note as indicated in the electronic medical record.
8. Attend family meetings as assigned.
9. Develops and updates weekly nursing summary and goals in the electronic medical record.
10. Assigns patient care to nursing staff and other unit duties based on staff members competency.
11. Supervises the delivery of direct patient care by nursing staff.
12. Administers medications according to policy and monitors patients response.
13. Verifies physician orders accurately and acknowledges new orders in the electronic medical record.
14. Acts as a member of the Code Blue Team as assigned.
15. Uses equipment and supplies as safely and effectively.
16. Adheres to standard precautions and infection control policies.
17. Anticipates safety problems and initiates action in response to equipment or information indicating risk(s) to correct, prevent and/or minimize risk(s) to the patient, employee of hospital.
18. Gives and receives report.
19. Assesses learning needs of patient and parents, then provides them with information teaches them skills as necessary.
20. Performs hospital wide and unit specific technical skills competently and independently in accordance with policy and procedure guidelines.
21. Completes GRASP data collection tool for assigned patients.
22. Serves as resource for other nursing staff members.
23. Maintains and uses the electronic medical record to coordinate and prioritize patient care.
Other job duties:
1. Acts as a charge nurse and responds to patient and unit need accordingly;
2. Acts as a preceptor for new nursing staff members as assigned;
3. Participates in quality assessment and performance improvement activities;
4. Accompanies patients for clinics, and community reintegration;
5. Participates in interdisciplinary patient rounds and related activities;
6. Serves as active member of departmental or hospital committee as requested.
7. Other duties, as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Required Experience:
1. Minimum of two (2) to three (3) years of experience working in pediatric nursing, preferably in acute care settings.
2. Basic Computer skills. The ideal candidate must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients serves on his or her assigned unit. He/she must also demonstrate knowledge of principles of growth and development over the life span, possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patients’ status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient requirement relative to his or her age specific needs.
License/Certifications:
1. Current license from the District of Columbia;
2. Current CPR certification;
3. Certification in Pediatric Rehabilitation preferred.
Required Education:
1. Graduate of a fully accredited school of nursing;
2. Bachelor of Science in Nursing preferred.