Registered Nurse-Emergency Services in Belle Glade, FL

General Statement of Job This position provides safe and effective nursing care and treatment to patients in the Emergency Services Department. Employees are part of a managed care team and works collaboratively with ancillary personnel in the provision of proper medical services and treatment. This position is responsible for assessing the patient, planning the care and evaluating the effectiveness of nursing interventions in accordance with established regulations, policies, nursing standards and medical instructions. Specific Duties and Responsibilities Essential Functions: • Provides nursing care to meet the needs of the patient population served as qualified, i.e., neonatal, infant, child, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients. • Delivers age appropriate patient care within defined hospital and emergency care standards for assessment, care planning, interventions, and reassessment, and delegates care appropriately to other team members and support staff. • Performs duties with a clear understanding of the Joint Commission Safety Goals and delivers care with patient safety as a goal. Follows hospital policies guiding compliance with National Patient Safety Goals. • Demonstrates understanding and commitment to hospital’s mission, philosophy, standards, policies and procedures. Recognizes all staff, physicians and visitors, as well as, patients as customers and provides courteous and respectful service. • Participates in the orientation and mentoring of new staff members recognizing importance of bringing new staff into a friendly and supportive work environment. • Maintains competencies and participates in required training and in-services for unit. • Ensures completion of continuing education requirements in subjects pertinent to emergency nursing or position related information. • Delegates and supervises care appropriately to CNAs, Paramedics and Unit Clerks with follow up and feedback procedures to ensure quality of care. Initiates appropriate actions as needed. • Assists manager and other staff members to maintain competence and skills for procedures assigned and assists in validation of skills and competence of new staff members prior to delegation of patient care. • Demonstrates an understanding of responsibility of emergency plans and is available for patient care as needed or scheduled when hospital emergency preparedness plans are activated. • Works cooperatively with ancillary departments in ensuring the patient’s care is safe, following protocols as applicable. • Participates with team members and manager to identify opportunities for improvement in patient care processes. • Utilizes and ensures staff uses supplies efficiently, following infection control procedures, avoiding waste and follows patient charging procedures. • Serves as an example for team members in cost saving practices. • Ensures the placement of identifying arm-band on patient upon patient’s arrival in the Emergency Services Department. • Follows the Universal Protocol for prevention of wrong site, wrong procedure and wrong person surgery. • Provides informed consent for procedures and aspects of care in accordance with policies, procedures and regulatory guidelines. • Utilizes patient care equipment safely, following hospital policy and procedure. Reports any identified equipment breakdown or malfunction by hospital policy. Maintains cleanliness of equipment after use. • Serves as a leader for change, positively promoting new systems and changes implemented which improves the hospital and the service provided to its patients. • Participates in hospital community activities and helps portray a positive image of the hospital in the community. • Documents and reports any complaints from patients, physicians and visitors to supervisor as guided by hospital policies and procedures. • Checks code cart and performs monitor/defibrillator checks each shift. • Verifies medication discrepancies are not present at the end of the shift. • Follows and adheres to EMTALA guidelines in arranging for transfer of a patient to another healthcare facility. • Screens all patients for the appropriate acuity and priority level in a timely manner. • Assesses each patient for potential abuse, suicidal or exploitation. Reports to proper authority any concerns of abuse, neglect, suicide or exploitation. • Evaluates emotional needs of the patients with appropriate referrals. • Explains all procedures and care plans to patients, and as appropriate to family. Ensures patient and/or family are educated for appropriate health maintenance. • Performs home medication reconciliation with the appropriate documentation. • Orders initial lab tests and x-rays by established protocols or per physician orders. Ensures patients are appropriately prepared for tests. • Obtains and transcribes physician’s orders in a timely and accurate manner ensuring all tests are ordered appropriately and efficiently. • Completes assessments and documentation of all patients. • Evaluates clinical/diagnostic reports and reports variances to the Physician and documents same. • Assess patient’s care status frequently and charts patient’s vital signs and notifies physician of abnormal ranges as well as any significant changes. • Develops plan of care and patient focused goals with the patient and family as appropriate, ensuring patient understanding and involvement in their care. • Verifies any patient allergies prior to administration of medications. • Communicates effectively with other patient care providers and team members for efficiencies and safety of care through appropriate ordering procedures, preparing patients for surgery and other procedures, communicating fall potential and other risk identifiers. • Utilizes patient restraints appropriately following the hospital’s policies and procedures. • Assesses lung sound in patients to evaluate pulmonary status by auscultation. • Observes cardiac rhythm and initiates ACLS protocol defibrillates patients safely in accordance with regulations, policy and accepted procedure • Assesses each patients’ pain and documents utilizing the approved pain scale. Documents reassessment of pain post-treatment and at time of discharge. • Reviews with the Physician all critical lab values and documents patient’s plan of care. • Documents and maintains all patient care records and related required documentation. • Maintains records and communications with respect to patient’s privacy. • Follows policies for administration of high-risk drugs, patient identification, documentation and taking telephone orders with read back and communication of critical values/diagnostic results. • Documents the administration of medicines including dosage, medicine route, medicine site, and patient's response as required in the documentation system. • Arranges for patient interviews with Surgeon and Anesthesiologist in preparation for surgery, and remains available to answer any questions the patient may have or arrange for more information from the Surgeon. • Performs time out procedures on all invasive procedures at the bedside as needed. • Communicates and completes documentation for effective handoff of patients care (SBAR) for admission or transfer of patient to another health care facility. • Utilizes good communication skills, critical thinking and checkpoints for teamwork. Provides patient information timely and effectively during shift report and with patient’s hand-offs. • Discharges patients including the plan of care for follow up requirements. • Completes discharge instructions with information regarding food and drug interaction. • Provides nursing care to patients with either hard or soft splinting devices; assesses circulation, mobility, and neurological status of patients. Applies splints and bandages per physician’s orders. • Performs waived testing per policy and completes associated documentation. • Follows proper aseptic techniques in all medication preparation and administration. • Utilizes needle-less system in providing patient care as appropriate in accordance with policies, procedures and regulatory standards. • Starts IVs and delivers IV medications to patients as needed. Runs and calculates IV drips. • Documents the date and time all IV tubing on initiation of IV infusions. • Completes control tests on Accu Check machine daily. • Performs bedside blood glucose monitoring per physician order and/or hospital policy. • Performs NG tube insertion and performs gastric suction per hospital policy and procedures. • Performs port flushes, injections and blood transfusions as needed. • Dresses patient wounds as needed utilizing appropriate method of care. • Collects specimens following hospital policy and procedure. • Utilizes personal protective equipment in performing duties where actual or potential exposure to hazardous conditions may be present. • Reports variances in care and/or medication administration for quality improvement. • Performs duties in accordance with pathogen transmission practices; i.e., follows hand washing procedures and utilizes protective equipment effectively. • Participates in the cleanliness of the work environment. • Follows the cleaning and disposal policies and procedures for all hazardous waste. • Participates in the hospital Utilization Management Program by assisting with discharge planning, reporting to case managers and keeping patient, family, physician and other personnel informed. • Delivers patient care in accordance with established infection control standards for patient placement, IV therapy, medication administration and the performance of all patient procedures; demonstrating adherence to hand washing policy. • Follows guidelines for performance improvement and demonstrates understanding of participation in the Core Measures for Lakeside Medical Center and for documentation review and restraint review process. • Participates in department’s QI activities on a daily basis. • Ensures availability of age appropriate supplies and equipment. • Completes pre-operation checklist. • Witnesses consents for surgery, anesthesia and special procedures as per hospital policy. • Transports patients to appropriate care locations utilizing monitoring if indicated. • Floats to other units as required. Emergency duty may be required of the incumbent that includes working in special needs or Red Cross shelters or to perform other emergency duties including, but not limited to, responses to threats or actual disasters, man-made or natural. Customer Service: Every employee knows and understands his/her customers and focuses on delivering to them the highest quality services(s) in the context of the overall mission. Demonstrates the ability to maintain high levels of customer satisfaction by meeting expectations; builds and maintains positive relationships with customers and colleagues; interacts with all customers in a polite, friendly, and courteous manner; actively listens to assess customer needs; promotes a positive public image for the organization. Communication: The ability to express ideas effectively face-to-face, as well as in writing, in individual and group situations, adjusting language and terminology to the needs of the audience, and the ability to synthesize information received verbally and in writing. Demonstrates the ability to share information in an organized, clear, and timely manner, both verbally and in writing; keeps co-workers, colleagues, staff, and supervisor appropriately informed; exhibits interpersonal skills and is an active and participative listener; uses appropriate style and language for audience; processes information in a productive manner. Teamwork: Creates effective working relationships within and across organizational boundaries. Demonstrates the ability to maintain a positive, achievement-oriented attitude that influences others to do the same; demonstrates willingness to work through conflict in a productive manner; invites information, constructive criticism, and cooperation from others; demonstrates integrity through respecting confidentiality and exhibiting high standards of personal conduct. Initiative and Ingenuity: The capacity for self-motivation that is manifested by innovation and creativity. Possesses the ability to focus on improving outcomes by encouraging innovation; demonstrates the ability to anticipate obstacles and develop plans to overcome them; possesses knowledge in a particular area of trends and uses knowledge to modify existing processes; demonstratives creativity and the ability to make decisions that demonstrate a broad and creative range of options with a view toward long-term solutions; demonstrates openness to new information and approaches so as to stimulate in others the use of non-linear thinking; demonstrates initiative by performing duties without required prompting and close supervision; readily accepts responsibility and follows through to completion independently; accepts and adjusts to changes in work environment and/or assignments by demonstrating flexibility. Commitment to Quality: Consistently maintains a high level of quality that meets specific standard operating practices and procedures, consistent with organizational goals. Possesses the abilities to identify quality processes in order to meet organizational standards and minimum standard operating practices and procedures; demonstrates an understanding of the organizational goals and priorities in order to apply quality processes to the work; stays abreast of current techniques, methods and skills appropriate to standard operating procedures and practices; demonstrates abilities in planning for quality evaluation and measurement activities. Productivity: Employee makes use of work time in an efficient and productive manner. Possesses the knowledge, skills and abilities for the position in order to meet facility and departmental requirements; demonstrates the ability to provide services, appropriate to the job description, to better serve our customers; demonstrates the ability to seek assistance from supervisor or other team members to assure good customer service; possesses the ability to seek assistance from supervisor or colleagues to assure good customer service; ability to multi-task and set priorities, according to schedules and guidelines. Leadership/Creating a Shared Vision: Demonstrates leadership in keeping with the District’s overall mission, vision, and values. Managing and Developing Human Resources: Manages human resources of a department, division, or work unit by fostering excellence. Promoting Quality, Customer Service and Productivity: Utilizes continuous quality assurance processes to ensure quality, appropriate services are rendered to the customer in order to meet or surpass established goals and objectives Demonstrates the ability to develop and communicate performance objectives, delegate assignments, and monitor customer service, quality and productivity; possesses a thorough knowledge of the needs of the customer necessary to lead others; and develops quality evaluation mechanisms to link customer feedback to performance assessment; demonstrates excellent verbal and written communication skills, including supportive assurances to staff, gathering feedback, mentoring and the ability to lead staff to meet customer needs; maintains compliance with federal, state and local regulations. Meeting Strategic Goals and Objectives: Plans actions to accomplish designated and desired outcomes. Diversity Competencies: In the interest of ensuring continued workforce diversity at the Health Care District every staff member is required to: Additional Duties: May be required to act in a Charge Nurse capacity during which, the additional duties would be required: Supervises RNs, LPNs, Paramedics, CNAs and Unit Clerks and the provision of care to patients in accordance with policies, procedures and regulations. Assists the Nursing Manager – Emergency Services with order transcription and overall operation of the unit. This job description reflects the general duties considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job as identified and shall not be considered as a complete description of all the work requirements and expectations that may be inherent in the position. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position. Management of the Health Care District of Palm Beach County reserves the right to assign duties not listed herein as necessary to accomplish the goals of the organization. Position Qualifications Education: Nursing degree from an accredited nursing school required. Experience: One (1) year of acute care nursing experience as an RN required. Certification: Current CPR certification required, ACLS and PALS required upon hire. Advanced certification such as CEN preferred Cardiac Proficiency Certification preferred. Licensure: State of Florida, Registered Nurse license required. Registrations: N/A Training: N/A