Job Description

Job Description

Has overall responsibility for the nursing care of patients assigned. Responsible for assessment, establishing goals and treatment plans, carrying out physician treatment and nursing care plans, ensuring patient safety, documentation of care and patient and family education. May delegate some tasks to LPNs or Patient Care Technicians.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Score

Function

_____

1. Patient Assessment/Reassessment

a. Assesses patients condition based upon observation and/or interview of patient, physicians diagnosis, laboratory findings and any other pertinent information.

b. Uses professional judgment to prepare nursing care plans consistent with assessment of patients condition and physicians treatment plans.

c. Directs non-professional personnel in implementing nursing care plans, and provides guidance and demonstrates appropriate methods, as necessary, to correct deviations from established standards.

d. Evaluates patients response to care and/or contacts physicians, as circumstances require.

e. Considers age and cultural differences when performing care.

______

2. Care of Patient

a. Accurately administers medications according to the 5 rights of medication administration and in accordance with KCH policy.

b. Renders professional nursing care including administering medications, and initiating and maintaining intravenous fluids and blood products according to hospital policy and procedures.

c. Understands the pharmacology and recognizes the side effects of medications administered.

d. Performs both complex and routine treatments as prescribed by physicians or as warranted by patients condition

______

3. Management of Information

a. Observes patient and collects data.

1. Documents observations on the patients record according to KCH policy/procedure.
2. Ensure proper precautions are taken to maintain and protect patient confidentiality
3. Adheres to KCH IS Security and HIPAA policies. Will hold in confidence any and all patient information communicated or stored using any medium including oral communication. The associate will seek to protect patient information from inadvertent use or disclosure by adhering to hospital and Triad Blue Book policies.
4. Contributes to the collection and evaluation of data for the nursing Quality Review Program.

f. Communicates with other hospital departments, as necessary, in order to

resolve operational problems and make the most effective use of hospital

resources in the delivery of quality patient care.

______

4. Pain Management

a. Assesses and reassess pain while considering religious and cultural beliefs.

b. Provides interventions and documents according to KCH policy.

______

5. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

a. Initiates code response and manage the patient, personnel, code medications and demonstrate proper use of equipment during resuscitation efforts.

b. Acts as the nurse leader in code blue situations not within the Emergency Care Center. If the code blue is within the Emergency Care Center, the nurse acts as the nurse helper.

c. Has completed CPR annual training.

______

6. Patient Safety

a. Implements procedures for security, equipment safety and infection control.

b. Identifies, reports and manages actual and potential risks to patient safety.

c. Applies learning from sentinel event alerts and root cause analyses.

______

7. Patient/Family Education

a. Assesses learning needs, identifies barriers to learning, cultural differences and

uses appropriate teaching methods.

b. Instructs patients and family members regarding treatments, surgical procedures, nursing plans and so forth in order to allay apprehensions; explains home care methods and techniques necessary for continuing patient care and rehabilitation.

c. Documents patient/family education appropriately.

______

8. Patients Rights/Abuse

a. Abides by policies governing patient rights and responsibilities.

b. Can list signs and symptoms of child, spouse and elder abuse.

c. Documents witnesses or suspected abuse and notifies appropriate authority according to KCH policy.

______

9. Restraint Use

a. Assesses need for restraint and attempts alternative mechanisms.

1. Applies restraint appropriately
2. Acquires physician orders for restraint as required by hospital policy.
3. Documents assessment according to hospital policy.

______

10. Demonstrates age appropriate competency skills and knowledge, displays

ability to perform skills specific to patient population identified in unit specific skill list:

(Mark age specific of patients served in assigned unit)

_____infant _____child _____adolescent _____adult _____geriatric

(Mark age specific of patients served in alternative units assigned)

_____infant _____child _____adolescent _____adult _____geriatric

11. Assists in orienting and training student nurses and new personnel, and serves as a resource person for departmental personnel resolving patient care problems.

12. Floats to other units as assigned

13. Responsible for knowing the lifting requirements of the job and requesting assistance when appropriate.

14. Contributes to Performance Improvement activities at Kosciusko Community Hospital.

15. Maintains knowledge of current trends and developments in the field by reading

appropriate books; journals and other literature and attending related seminars,

conferences, etc.

16. Maintains patient confidentiality and assures protection and privacy of

health information as attained through written, electronic or oral disclosure.

NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Performs other duties as assigned.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Formal Training Required:

Must be a high school graduate with a Diploma, Associates or Bachelors degree in Nursing.

Experience Required:

Approximately three to six months on the job experience necessary in order to acquire and effectively utilize knowledge of unit and departmental policies and procedures, and to fulfill established quality and quantity standards for the job.

Licensure Required:

Currently licensed in the State of Indiana as a Registered Nurse.

Other:

Must have good verbal and written skills necessary in order to instruct and comfort patients and their families, maintain effective contacts with a variety of Hospital personnel, and maintain charting responsibilities.

Must be able to lift 50 pounds, assist with 100 pounds.

Must demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patient (infant, child, adolescent, adult or geriatric) served on assigned unit/department.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Exposure to contagious diseases through contact with patients. Exposure Control Level I.