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Required Skills

• CLINICAL JUDGEMENT – Clinical reasoning, which includes decision-making, critical thinking, and a global grasp of the situation, coupled with nursing skills acquired through a process of integrating formal and informal experiential knowledge and evidence-based guidelines.
  • Demonstrates the ability to assess the full scope of patient needs, using the nursing process on a continuous basis.
  • Utilizes past nursing experience to anticipate problems while seeking out multi-disciplinary collaboration with comfort, when necessary.
  • Recognizes patterns and trends that may predict the direction of illness.
• CARING PRACTICES:  Nursing activity that create a compassionate, supportive, and therapeutic environment for patients/families and staff.  Working on another’s behalf and representing the concerns of the patient/family and nursing staff; serving as a moral agent in identifying and helping to resolve ethical and clinical concerns within and outside the clinical setting.
  • Promotes safety throughout patient’s and family’s transitions along the healthcare continuum.
  • Actively anticipates and monitors patient and family changes, responds appropriately.
  • Effectively resolves patient complaints.
  • Engages all patients in a personalized, compassionate manner.
• COLLABORATION/SYSTEMS THINKING – Working with others (e.g., patients, families, healthcare providers) in a way that promotes/encourages each person’s contribution toward achieving optimal/realistic patient/family goals.  Involves intra-and inter- disciplinary work with colleagues and community.  Body of knowledge and tools that allow the nurse to manage whatever Environmental and system resources exist for the patient/family and staff, within or across healthcare and non-healthcare systems.
  • Consults and coordinates with team members to assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care plans.
  • Actively utilizes evidence-based practice and customer service data to improve caring practices.
  • Effectively plans and communicates patient care plans.
  • Facilitates active involvement of others in team meetings regarding patient care and/or practice issues.
  • Seeks out opportunities to be taught, coached, and mentored.
  • Recruits diverse resources when appropriate to optimize patient outcomes.
  • Serves as a resource to department and patient/family.
• RESPONSE TO DIVERSITY – The sensitivity to recognize, appreciate and incorporate differences into the provision of care.  Differences may include, but are not limited to, cultural differences, personalities, spiritual beliefs, gender, race, ethnicity, lifestyle, socioeconomic status, age, and values.
  • Integrates cultural differences into patient/family care; incorporates appropriate alternative therapies.
  • Tailors healthcare culture to meet the diverse needs and strengths of each patient/family. 
• FACILITATION OF LEARNING – The ability to facilitate learning for patients/families, nursing staff, other members of the healthcare team, and community.  Include both formal and informal facilitation of learning.
  • Develops and modifies patient/family education programs throughout delivery of care, collaborating and incorporating all healthcare providers’ and educational plans.
  • Provides individualized care.
  • Evaluates patient’s understanding by observing behavior changes throughout plan of care.
  • Sets patient-driven goals for education.
  • Work toward achieving Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
• CLINICAL INQUIRY (INNOVATOR/EVALUATOR) – The ongoing process of questioning and evaluating practice and providing informed practice.  Creating practice changes through research utilization and experimental learning.
  • Adapts standards of care to serve particular patient populations.
  • Seeks out advice to improve patient care.
  • Evaluates current practices based on patient responses, analysis of literature, research, and education.
  • Incorporates evidence based practice into care delivery.
  • Actively pursues continuing educational opportunities.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Skills

• Collects patient data within the clinical standards; reports significant variances to registered nurse.
• Establishes workload priorities and offer input into plan of care; encourages patient participation in plan of care.
• Provides and documents care within standards of practice, policies and procedures and protocols consistent with the patient plan of care under supervisor of an RN.
• Identifies expected outcomes individualized to patient needs under RN guidance.
• Demonstrates competency in all required areas, including department-specific, age-specific, medication administration, and use of equipment.
• Assumes responsibility for professional development by:
• Maintaining ongoing continuing education,
• Contributing to professional development of peers, and
• Participating in CQI.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Skills

1. Performs and documents nursing care measures to meet the physical needs of patients as directed by the registered nurse. Illustrative tasks and expectations include, but are not limited to, the following:

•  Provides hygiene and comfort measures, assuring privacy and preventing undue exposure.
  • Provides or assists patient with bathing, oral hygiene, hair care, nail care, shaving, etc.
  • Assures that linens are dry, wrinkle free and that patient is comfortable.
  • Provides handwashing opportunity before and after meals, toileting, etc.
•  Activity:
  • Assists with patient’s activities including ambulation, chair, dangling and repositioning; uses proper body mechanics, positioning techniques, and assistive devices.
•  Nutrition:
  • Serves and collects food trays and nourishments. Records percentage of diet intake.
  • Feeds or assists patients as necessary. Records intake. Reports deviations from normal.
  • Clears IV and Tube Feeding Pumps at end of each shift and documents appropriately.
•  Elimination:
  • Provides bed pan/urinal. Performs perineal care.
  • Performs bladder catheter care and discontinues bladder catheter as directed.
  • Performs ostomy care (ileostomy, colostomy, urostomy) including application of appropriate appliances.
  • Records output. Reports deviations from normal.
•  Other related needs:
  • Assists with post-mortem care.
  • Assists with admission, transfer and discharge of patients.
  • Promptly responds to patient call light or requests (usually in less than ten minutes).

2. Performs and documents monitoring procedures; observes and reports the patient response. Illustrative tasks and expectations include, but are not limited to, the following:

•  Obtains vital signs (B/P and TPR).
• Obtains weight in kg (standing, chair or bed scale) and reports deviation from previous weight.
• Empties drainage collection devices.
• Performs blood glucose monitoring.
• Observes and reports unusual conditions and/or change in patient behavior or appearance.

 3. Performs therapeutic measures/procedure, observes and reports changes, deviations from normal. Illustrative tasks and expectations include, but are not limited to, the following:

•  Application of heat; i.e., K-pad.
• Application of cold; i.e., ice bags, sponge baths.
• Therapeutic baths, i.e., Sitz, Aveeno.
• Obtains routine non-sterile specimens.
• Assists with patient preparation for surgical, therapeutic and/or diagnostic procedures.
• Oxygen therapy (sets up/maintains/discontinues) as directed.
• Applies nonsterile dressing as directed.
• Discontinues peripheral IV as directed.
• Performs oral pharyngeal suctioning.
• Preps skin and applies telemetry patches.
• Records all interventions; observes and reports the patient response, changes, and/or deviations from normal parameters.

4. Maintains safety and security of patient/family/self/others, observing safety precautions and promoting a sense of security and well being. Illustrative tasks and expectations include but are not limited to the following:

• Conducts purposeful hourly rounding as a team member, inquiring of the four P’s (Pain, Potty, Possessions and Positioning).
• Follows standard precautions. Always washes hands between patients.
• Reports equipment malfunctions.
• Assists in keeping patient rooms/corridors free of clutter. Cleans fluid spills.
• Uses proper body mechanics in moving, transferring and transporting patients.
• Positions side rails appropriate to the patient’s condition.
• Applies and maintains restraining devices as directed.
• Interacts with patients/visitors/others in a courteous and respectful manner.
• Fully explains procedures to patients/families prior to performing.
• Assures patient privacy/rights/confidentiality.
• Recognizes and reports patient concerns; offers constructive solutions.

5. Promotes efficient and effective functioning of the unit/hospital. Illustrative tasks and expectations include but are not limited to, the following:

• Skilled in computer messaging, obtaining results.
• Completes assigned aspects of unit inventory management.
• Complies with established policies, procedures, standards and guidelines.
• Uses designated lines of communication and authority.
• Supports efforts to reduce costs.
• Consistently utilizes time and resources effectively and efficiently.
• Maintains cleanliness of unit, service area and equipment.
• Cooperates with all members of the healthcare team.
• Enthusiastically supports and participates in planned changes.
• Accepts responsibility for accurate and timely completion of tasks as assigned.
• Adheres to MHS Behavioral Standards.
• Handles floor stock medications or medications delivered from Pharmacy directly or through the pneumatic tube system. Relocate these medications, in original containers, to designated secure storage locations or deliver directly to appropriate licensed staff.

6. Performs additional unit specific tasks/care elements for which they have received specific instruction and demonstrated competence.

7. Performs other related work as required or requested.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job.  Incumbents may be requested to perform tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Required Skills

Essential Functions and Job Duties

• CLINICAL JUDGEMENT – Clinical reasoning, which includes decision-making, critical thinking, and a global grasp of the situation, coupled with nursing skills acquired through a process of integrating formal and informal experiential knowledge and evidence-based guidelines.
• Demonstrates the ability to assess the full scope of patient needs, using the nursing process on a continuous basis.
• Utilizes past nursing experience to anticipate problems while seeking out multi-disciplinary collaboration with comfort, when necessary.
• Recognizes patterns and trends that may predict the direction of illness.
• CARING PRACTICES:  Nursing activity that create a compassionate, supportive, and therapeutic environment for patients/families and staff.  Working on another’s behalf and representing the concerns of the patient/family and nursing staff; serving as a moral agent in identifying and helping to resolve ethical and clinical concerns within and outside the clinical setting.
• Promotes safety throughout patient’s and family’s transitions along the healthcare continuum.
• Actively anticipates and monitors patient and family changes, responds appropriately.
• Effectively resolves patient complaints.
• Engages all patients in a personalized, compassionate manner.
• COLLABORATION/SYSTEMS THINKING – Working with others (e.g., patients, families, healthcare providers) in a way that promotes/encourages each person’s contribution toward achieving optimal/realistic patient/family goals.  Involves intra-and inter- disciplinary work with colleagues and community.  Body of knowledge and tools that allow the nurse to manage whatever Environmental and system resources exist for the patient/family and staff, within or across healthcare and non-healthcare systems.
• Consults and coordinates with team members to assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care plans.
• Actively utilizes evidence-based practice and customer service data to improve caring practices.
• Effectively plans and communicates patient care plans.
• Facilitates active involvement of others in team meetings regarding patient care and/or practice issues.
• Seeks out opportunities to be taught, coached, and mentored.
• Recruits diverse resources when appropriate to optimize patient outcomes.
• Serves as a resource to department and patient/family.
• RESPONSE TO DIVERSITY – The sensitivity to recognize, appreciate and incorporate differences into the provision of care.  Differences may include, but are not limited to, cultural differences, personalities, spiritual beliefs, gender, race, ethnicity, lifestyle, socioeconomic status, age, and values.
• Integrates cultural differences into patient/family care; incorporates appropriate alternative therapies.
• Tailors healthcare culture to meet the diverse needs and strengths of each patient/family. 
• FACILITATION OF LEARNING – The ability to facilitate learning for patients/families, nursing staff, other members of the healthcare team, and community.  Include both formal and informal facilitation of learning.
• Develops and modifies patient/family education programs throughout delivery of care, collaborating and incorporating all healthcare providers’ and educational plans.
• Provides individualized care.
• Evaluates patient’s understanding by observing behavior changes throughout plan of care.
• Sets patient-driven goals for education.
• Work toward achieving Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
• CLINICAL INQUIRY (INNOVATOR/EVALUATOR) – The ongoing process of questioning and evaluating practice and providing informed practice.  Creating practice changes through research utilization and experimental learning.
• Adapts standards of care to serve particular patient populations.
• Seeks out advice to improve patient care.
• Evaluates current practices based on patient responses, analysis of literature, research, and education.
• Incorporates evidence based practice into care delivery.
• Actively pursues continuing educational opportunities.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Skills

• Collects patient data within the clinical standards; reports significant variances to registered nurse.
• Establishes workload priorities and offer input into plan of care; encourages patient participation in plan of care.
• Provides and documents care within standards of practice, policies and procedures and protocols consistent with the patient plan of care under supervisor of an RN.
• Identifies expected outcomes individualized to patient needs under RN guidance.
• Demonstrates competency in all required areas, including department-specific, age-specific, medication administration, and use of equipment.
• Assumes responsibility for professional development by:
• Maintaining ongoing continuing education,
• Contributing to professional development of peers, and
• Participating in CQI.

Required Skills

Assesses patient’s health status through interview, observation and physical assessment skills.

Responsible for delegation, supervision, and provision of nursing care for a designated group of patients through utilization of the nursing process.

Participates in research when appropriate and incorporates research findings into evidence-based clinical practice.

Contributes to quality improvement processes.

Completes documentation in the patient medical record accurately and in a timely manner

Demonstrated technical knowledge and skill to safely utilize patient care equipment.

Prioritizes work based on changes in the patient condition, changes in assignments and unanticipated interruptions.

Performs all nursing care activities using techniques to promote safety, reduce risks, and follows policies and procedures.

Acts as an advocate for the patient with families, physicians and other healthcare team members.

Adapts teaching strategies based on the patient’s response, readiness to learn and level of comprehension.

Implements cultural, age-specific gender and developmental factors into patient/family education about health concerns, disease specific conditions, self-care and long-term management of chronic conditions.

Perform tactics to support great patient experience and lead others to support initiatives in patient experience.

Performs other related work as required or requested.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job.  Incumbents may be requested to perform tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

11/2018

Required Skills

Principle Duties & Responsibilities:

1. Nursing Care

Data Collection:
o Observes, records and reports objective and subjective patient data.
o Demonstrates ability to detect signs and symptoms of deviation from normal health status.
o Informs RN of abnormal or changing data and of patient/family responses to interventions.

Planning:
o Assists the RN in development the nursing plan of care.

Intervention:
o Competently performs tasks/procedures as directed. (See Table)
o Use equipment safely.
o Takes appropriate action in life-threatening situations/emergencies.
o Accurately administers medications by appropriately delegated routes
o Utilizes appropriate infection control and safety measures.
o Acts to prevent harm or injury to patient, self, and others.
o Documents and communicates to RN nursing interventions and patient responses.
o Seeks supervision prior to initiating new or unfamiliar nursing activities and/or with a change in patient condition.

Evaluation:
o Observes, records and reports patient responses to nursing interventions and other relevant data to the RN.
o Assist the RN to evaluate and modify the plant of care.

Patient/Family Education:
o Assists the RN to identify, implement and evaluate age appropriate teaching interventions.
o Reinforce teaching initiated by other members of the healthcare team.

Communication:
o Inform RN of abnormal and/or changing data and patient/family response to interventions.
o Develops and maintains interviewing skills required for data collection.

2. Quality and Safety
• Communicates and documents potential risk issues to appropriate personnel.

• Participates in continuous quality improvement.

• Participates in review and revision of policies, procedures, and standards of care.

• Complies with all safety policies.

3. Accountability
• Advocates for patients and families.

• Appropriately follows the chain of command.

• Adheres to the Memorial Health System Behavioral Standards.

• Identifies annual goals for own professional development.

• Provides constructive feedback to strengthen the Division of Nursing and the employee’s department/unit.

• QUALITY: Improve Outcomes – I continually advance my knowledge, skills and performance. I work with others to achieve superior results.

• EFFICIENCY: Reduce Waste – I use time and resources wisely. I prevent defects and delays.

5. Performs other related work as required or requested.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. Incumbents may be requested to perform tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Required Skills

1. Consistently presents professional presence to customers.
2. Consistently demonstrates competency in providing care according to the care plan and agency policy.
3. Consistently ensures patient safety.
4. Consistently is active in teamwork and reporting.

1. Consistently maintains required education requirements.
2. Consistently submits documentation in compliance with agency policy.
3. Consistent attention is given to efficiently planning the day’s activity.
4. Consistently follows Memorial Health System Behavioral Standards policy.
5. Will perform Telehealth installations.
6. Performs other related work as required or requested
7. Maintains professional growth and development through continuing education, seminars, workshops and professional affiliations.
8. Perform other related work as required or requested.

Required Skills

1. Performs age appropriate assessments.

1. Analyzes data to identify nursing problems.

1. Provides direct patient care, develops individualized plan of care in partnership with patients & families. Evaluates patient progress toward attainment of goals, revising plan of care when indicated.

1. Delegates patient care tasks to LPNs and unlicensed assistive personnel based on job description and patient needs.

1. Appropriately supervises performance of LPNs and unlicensed assistive personnel.

1. Builds teamwork when supervising and delegating to others.

1. Documents patient care according to policies and procedures.

1. Ensures appropriate implementation of physician’s orders.

1. Precepts new nursing employees and/or nursing students.

1. Identifies & resolves safety risks.

1. Participates in continuous quality improvement, periodic review of policies, procedures and pre-printed physicians orders.

1. Assists with educational activities for other staff on the nursing unit.

1. Assures that department is survey-ready at all times.

1. Performs other related work as required or requested.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job.  Incumbents may be requested to perform tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Required Skills

1. Assesses patient’s health status through interview, observation and physical assessment skills.

1. Develops an individualized plan of care with specific goals and target date in collaboration with the patient, family, provider and other members of the health care as appropriate.

1. Implements appropriate interventions identified in the plan of care to move the patient toward established goals or outcomes.

1. Systematically evaluates and documents patient’s progress to expected outcomes / goals on an ongoing basis throughout the shift and modifies plan of care based on patient’s responses to expected outcomes.

1. Completes documentation in the patient medical record accurately and in a timely manner

1. Demonstrated technical knowledge and skill to safely utilize patient care equipment.

1. Prioritizes work based on changes in the patient condition, changes in assignments and unanticipated interruptions.

1. Collaborates with the health care team to organize tasks and activities from the patient’s admission through discharge. Delegates tasks and activities to other members in the health care team using appropriate

1. Performs all nursing care activities using techniques to promote safety, reduce risks, and follows policies and procedures.

1. Acts as an advocate for the patient with families, physicians and other healthcare team members.

1. Adapts teaching strategies passed on the patient’s response, readiness to learn and level of comprehension.

1. Implements cultural, age-specific gender and developmental factors into patient/family education about health concerns, disease specific conditions, self-care and long-term management of chronic conditions.

1. Promptly follow up on patient’s/ family requests/concerns

1. Provides care to all age groups as defined by nursing standards on each unit. Uses age appropriate communication techniques. 

1. Perform tactics to support great patient experience and lead others to support initiatives in patient experience.

1. Performs other related work as required or requested.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job.  Incumbents may be requested to perform tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.