RN, Medical / Surgery Unit- Full Time

Description Summary : The competent Nurse, in the

Medsurg, Telemetry, and Intermediate Care clinical setting,

practices independently and demonstrates an awareness of all

relevant aspects of a situation. Provides routine and complex care,

in accordance with patient treatment plans. Continues to develop

the ability to cope with and manage contingencies of clinical

nursing. Makes appropriate assignments and delegates to other care

providers as a means to help manage the clinical situation.

Responsibilities : Meets expectations of the applicable OneCHRISTUS

Competencies : Leader of Self, Leader of Others, or Leader of

Leaders. Meets expectations for flexibility of assignment within

the ministry. Proactively provide assignment availability on a

regular basis. Able to be assigned to more than one unit.

Consistent with the ANA Scope and Standards of Practice, provides

nursing care utilizing the nursing process, including assessment,

diagnosis, planning, intervention and evaluation for assigned

patients. Addresses increasingly complex psychological, emotional,

cultural, and social needs of patient and families in accordance

with their level of practice. Using the appropriate protocol,

administers medications and treatments; monitors for side-effects

and effectiveness of the treatment prescribed. Documents patient

history, symptoms, medication, and care given. Assess learning

needs and provides education to patients, family members and / or

care givers; identify issues and resources. CORE COMPETENCIES

Standard I : Utilizes the Nursing Process Uses critical thinking

skills to assess the basic physical, psychosocial, social,

cultural, spiritual, and development needs of patient and families.

Communicates findings to appropriate healthcare team members.

Develops and uses a specific plan of care and modifies it to meet

individual patient needs using evidence-based practice. Implements

patient care and therapeutic procedures; monitors and documents

progression of treatment and teaching goals. Evaluates the care and

treatment(s) provided to the patient and the patient response to

the care and treatment(s). Performs timely reassessment and

documentation. Must be able to perform unit-specific competencies

based on the specific patient care need for the designated unit's

patient population. Standard II. Patient Throughput & Patient

Flow Process Anticipates and plans for admission / discharge / transfer

needs to facilitate patient flow. Utilizes appropriate systems of

communication and tools to facilitate the discharge process.

Coaches on tools and techniques for checking, cross checking and

validating orders to ensure accuracy. Standard III. Unit Operations

Plans, directs, and evaluates the overall nursing care and

functions in a particular nursing unit during an assigned shift.

Demonstrates good stewardship in proper use and maintenance of

• equipment and Supplies. Assesses departmental staffing needs;

actively participates in resourcing efforts. Educates and trains

others on the operations, ethics, and regulations within the

industry. Standard IV. Safe Practice / Quality Care / Regulations

Incorporates patient safety practices / guidelines to promote a safe

environment resulting in positive patient outcomes. Demonstrates

accountability for nursing research and quality improvement

activities. Provides evidence-based nursing care. Communicates

patient information effectively across the continuum of care.

Educates and trains others on the operations, ethics, and

regulations within the industry. Knowledge of federal, state and

local healthcare-related laws and regulations; ability to comply

with these in healthcare practices and activities. TECHNICAL

COMPETENCIES Clinical Policies and Standards Follows a specific set

of standards and associated clinical procedures. Analyzes policy

and standards documentation and ensures organizational compliance.

Provides feedback for improvement of procedures. Assists in the

development and implementation of specific procedures. Works with

control and monitoring mechanisms, tools and techniques. Health

Information Documentation Shares experiences with maintaining paper

and electronic patient documentation. Walk through the steps and

procedures for receiving, validating and updating patient records.

Describes the flow of information between various stations or

units. Discusses the functions, features and document flow of

electronic documentation. Transcribes verbal orders; explains

techniques for ensuring their accuracy. Explains health information

documentation best practices and their rationale across health care

practices. Medical Equipment Describes experience with basic

medical equipment used in own unit or facility. Uses standard

diagnostic tools and techniques to resolves common equipment

problems. Educates patients about the appropriate use of home

medical equipment. Ensures that all equipment and related supplies

are in proper working order prior to use to ensure patient safety.

Inspects, troubleshoots and evaluates incoming equipment. Medical

Order Processing Shares experiences with processing medical orders

for one or more groups of patients or conditions. Describes

functions and features of the system used to enter, validate,

update and forward medical orders. Discusses common errors, their

sources and procedures for correcting. Explains considerations for

entering and following standing orders. Differentiates between

standing orders and preprinted orders and considerations for each.

Patient Chart Reading and Interpretation Describes experiences in

reading and interpreting patient charts for patients on unit and

under own care. Reviews patients’ charts for completion and

accuracy; identifies and alerts to mistakes or omissions.

Recognizes unexpected readings and alerts nursing or medical staff.

Relates examples of mis-readings or misinterpretations and lessons

learned. Reviews, discusses and validates own interpretation with

others. Patient Safety Shares experiences with ensuring safety for

one or more patient groups or settings. Explains key features of

safety guidelines and procedures for those groups and settings.

Listens and responds to safety inquiries from patients and family

members. Recognizes and addresses physiological and psychological

signs of problems. Describes considerations for patients who can

cause to harm to self, versus harm to others. Utilizes appropriate

systems to document misses and near misses, participates in

immediate investigating, analysis and reporting in real-time. Job

Requirements : Education / Skills ~ Bachelor of Science Degree in

Nursing, preferred Experience ~ Minimum of 2 years of combined

experience required in Medsurg / Telemetry and Intermediate Care ~5

years of experience preferred Licenses, Registrations, or

Certifications BLS required ACLS required RN License in state of

employment or compact required PALS required at CHRISTUS Children’s

Hospital   Work Schedule : 7PM - 7AM Work Type : Full

Time