REGISTERED NURSE - Med/Surg - Nights

Full Time - Starting at $ 28.57 to 42.66 

Position summary:  Renders leadership and nursing care of patients during hospitalization,  

in support of medical care as directed by Medical Staff, within the scope of the 

Missouri Nurse Practice Act, and pursuant to objectives, goals, policies and

philosophy of the nursing department and the hospital.

General purpose: Provides safe, quality patient care in the Medical-Surgical/Swingbed setting.

              Accountable for assessing, planning, implementing and coordinating patient care from

  admission to discharge on patients in various stages of life. Individual will serve as a  

  Charge Nurse, team leader and team member when assigned. A Charge Nurse, when  

  assigned, has the delegated authority and responsibility to implement, coordinate and 

  supervise nursing care for that shift, and throughout the facility, as needed.

 Role qualifications:

Education

• Graduate of accredited school of professional nursing

Experience

• Medical-Surgical experience preferred, but not required
• Open to Graduate Nurses

      Licenses/Certificate

• Current Missouri State Registration
• Current Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS)
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), preferred, but not required
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), preferred, but not required

Position responsibilities:

     Standards of Nursing Practice:

• Demonstrates understanding of nursing theory and awareness of contemporary nursing practice
• Provides care in a non-judgmental, non-discriminatory manner that is sensitive to the pediatric, adult or elderly patient’s and family’s diversity; preserving their autonomy, dignity and rights
• Is aware of the total nursing needs of the patient and assists in seeing that they are fulfilled through assessment, planning, implementing and evaluating the plan of care throughout hospitalization
• Ensures continuity in administering and supervising the patient care plan for each patient assigned
• Evaluates, records and communicates to the proper member of the health care team the patients’ physical, emotional, spiritual, social and economic needs
• Administers medications as allowed by the state regulations and nursing department policies
• Observes, records and reports to the physicians the condition of the patients, reactions to drugs and treatment, and significant incidents
• Maintains patients’ medical records on nursing observations, actions taken, medications administered and results obtained
• Acts as patient advocate through supervision, coordination and management of the direct care given to the patient
• Acts as liaison between patient, family, physician, hospital, personnel and community agencies
• Reports patient condition to appropriate nursing personnel at completion of each shift
• Performs nursing techniques and procedures for the comfort and well being of the patients
• Performs therapeutic measures as prescribed and delegated by Medical Staff
• Recognizes the need for and participates in the interpretation of therapeutic measures to patients and families
• Assures quality patient care in all patient care areas of the hospital, to include patient care units and emergency room
• Offers emotional support to the patients’ families as needed
• Expresses interest in patients’ progress, and explains procedures and treatments ordered
• Charts procedures and patient care as outlined by policy
• Regards patient charts and activities as confidential

     Leadership:

• Displays professional judgment and sound mental attitude
• Assists in maintaining a comfortable, orderly, safe and clean environment for patients, visitors and coworkers
• Conducts himself or herself at all times so as to reflect credit upon the nursing profession and the hospital
• Demonstrates leadership abilities directing other team members and cooperatively working with peer group to provide high quality care
• Exhibits sound judgment in all aspects of work
• Promotes intra- and inter-departmental relationships designed to assist in assuring quality continuity care

     Education:

• Is familiar with hospital and nursing service policies and procedures
• Assists in patient education including the promotion of physical and mental health
• Teaches and directs other nursing personnel when necessary
• Continues formal or informal self-education, participates in in-service programs and applicable learning experiences provided by the unit supervisor, Director of Nursing and others in the hospital setting
• Maintains current competency in medical-surgical nursing
• Displays a working knowledge of equipment used in the care of patients

     Other:

• Maintains a good public image of the unit, and the hospital as a whole, when dealing with customers, both internal and external

• Practices good personal health habits
• Performs additional duties as required

Essential skills and experience:

•  Basic computer literacy
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to analyze situations, make recommendations and decisions using critical thinking skills

Reporting to this position:  Direct supervision of LPNs, nursing assistants and other staff   

                         RNs while in the charge nurse role