Registered Nurse

JOB SUMMARY

Provides quality nursing care for maternal and newborn patients. Cooperates with other professional staff to provide services that reflect the caring philosophy of the hospital.

MAJOR JOB FUNCTION :

1. Completes initial nursing histories, assesses patients’ conditions and develops individual plan of care for patients assigned to the unit.

2. Provides direct patient care, evaluates outcome, consults with other specialists as required and adjusts nursing care processes as indicated to ensure optimal patient care.

3. Accurately administers medications and performs procedures that cannot be delegated including :

a. Assesses labor progression.

b. Manages induction of labor and cervical ripening.

c. Deals competently with medical emergencies including prolapsed cord, breech delivery, postpartum hemorrhage, precipitious delivery, uterine rupture, management of meconium, amnioinfusion, abruptio placenta and placenta previa.

d. Performs fetal heart monitoring.

e. Makes assessment of labor progress.

f. Manages pregnancy-caused hypertension.

g. Initiates intravenous therapy and use of infusion pumps.

h. Participates in emergency drug administration.

i. Assists with vacuum extractor.

j. Assesses condition of the newborn, including gestational exam.

k. Performs neonatal resuscitation and assists with intubation if required.

l. Recognizes and manages neonatal sepsis.

4. Teaches and supervises the proper performance of nursing acts that have been delegated to others and monitors nursing care of other health care team members.

5. Promotes patient / client education and involves the patient and significant others in implementation of health goals.

6. Understands and adheres to JOINT COMMISSION standards as they apply to the nursing profession.

7. Participates in fire, safety, disaster and infection control educational programs and exercises.

8. Participates in specific patient quality assessment activities, including chart review.

9. Complies with certification / recertification requirements of the position and attends continuing education courses to remain current in the field.

10. Demonstrates proficiency in regards to the computer documentation of patient cares and any other related computerized patient information / documentation.

11. Actively participates in developing own professional goals. Completes all required education, audits, and in services in allotted time frame.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Behaves in a manner consistent with hospital customer service program.

a. Treats co-workers and customers as appropriate. Is courteous and helpful in all customer contacts.

2. Meets hospital and departmental dress code and hygiene guidelines.

a. Is familiar with dress code / uniform requirements for department.

b. Dresses consistently in the appropriate attire in respect to position at hospital.

3. Meets JOINT COMMISSION and hospital educational standards as required.

4. Is present and prepared for work as scheduled.

5. Demonstrates creativity and initiative in job.

a. Contributes, develops, supports and / or carries out new ideas and methods in cooperation with co-workers and supervisors.

b. Is self-motivated.

6. Demonstrates support for and ability to work as part of a team on achieving departmental and organizational goals.

a. Develops positive working relationships, is receptive to and acts upon input from other team members and departments and is willing and able to compromise as needed.

7. Demonstrates organizational skills and effective use of time.

8. Communicates effectively.

a. Able to express ideas / opinions, uses appropriate congruent communications methods.

b. Deal with co-workers and customers openly and honestly.

c. Is receptive and attentive to communication / feedback from co-workers and customers.

9. Adheres to strict customer confidentiality standards, recognizing that even acknowledgment of privileged information is prohibited.

10. Supports and complies with the National Patient Safety Goals and quality improvement initiatives.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Graduation from an accredited school of nursing.

2. Current licensure to permit to practice as a registered nurse in the state of Wisconsin.

3. Current certification or eligibility to become BLS, ACLS and Neonatal certified.

4. Participates in perinatal continuing education program, when offered every 4-5 years.

QUALIFICATIONS / SKILLS :

1. Demonstrated competencies in the care of the antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum patient and her newborn.

2. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

3. Excellent human relation skills as demonstrated by the ability to interface positively with all customers and employees.

4. Must acquire the knowledge and maintain established competency levels to perform essential professional nursing practice.

5. Must have proficient computer skills with the ability to operate within a Windows environment.

6. Must have the ability to work with frequent interruptions, under stress, with minimal supervision, and to exercise initiative and judgment in analyzing, organizing, planning, prioritizing, scheduling and coordinating work with others.

7. Needs to possess as high level of intelligence, integrity, sense of responsibility and ability to comprehend and analyze details.

8. Knowledge of theory, principles, techniques and practice of professional nursing; of scientific principles and nursing research; of preparation, administration, and actions of medications; of treatments and medical procedures; of counseling and teaching techniques; of medical equipment as it relates to patient care.

9. Ability to operate and handle many kinds of complex equipment.

10. Ability to demonstrate clinical competence and maintain current knowledge in caring for infant through geriatric patients.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

1. Regularly required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, and talk and hear.

2. The Registered Nurse is frequently required to stand, walk and reach with hands and arms. The RN is occasionally required to sit, climb or balance, stoop, kneel or crouch, and smell.

3. The RN must occasionally lift and / or move up to 25 pounds.

4. Good hearing is necessary to receive detailed information through oral communication and to make fine discriminations in sound.

5. Visual acuity is needed to assess color changes, to verify accuracy of written materials and to administer and accurately prepare medications.

6. Computer / keyboard skills required. Must have the ability to operate in a Windows environment.