Registered Nurse

Job Description : JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB DESCRIPTION

The position description is a guide to the critical duties and essential functions of the job, not an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, qualifications, physical demands, and work environment conditions.

Position descriptions are reviewed and revised to meet the changing needs of the organization.

TITLE : Registered Nurse

JOB OVERVIEW : The staff RN is a licensed professional who assumes responsibility and accountability for a group of patients for a designated time frame.

This individual provides safe, quality care to these patients utilizing the nursing process as the basis for clinical practice.

ROLE : See job description for Clinical Partner for generic job duties.

AREA OF ASSIGNMENT : Any patient care area.

HOURS OF WORK : Assigned tour of duty hours.

RESPONSIBLE TO : Manager / Supervisor

PREREQUISITES : BSN preferred.

BSN preferred.

Current licensure to practice as a registered nurse in the state of Washington.

Successful completion of a graduate nurse residency program orientation or six months' experience as a registered nurse.

AHA BLS for healthcare providers required.

Preferred for advancement to charge nurse role :

Certification

Experience-Two years' practice in clinical nursing / leadership in area of responsibility

Unit specific prerequisites-see addendum.

GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS :

Demonstrates leadership skills with ability to lead and manage a team, utilize clinical judgment, clinical inquiry, innovation, and systems thinking.

Able to communicate effectively in oral and written form in the English language.

Adheres to the dress code.

Demonstrates effective interpersonal skills that are community-centered, compassionate, and meets the needs of diverse and vulnerable populations.

Ability to communicate and work effectively with the physical and emotional development of all age groups.

Practices in a caring environment with excellent customer service skills.

Functions within ANA Standards and Nurse Practice Act.

Ability to access information and communicate in an electronic environment including but not limited to the use of order entry, e-mail, and computer documentation skills.

Self-directed in advancing professional practice through continuing education and research.

UNIQUE PHYSICAL / MENTAL DEMANDS, ENVIRONMENT AND WORKING CONDITIONS :

Must be able to provide safe patient handling as defined in VMC's Safe Patient Handling guidelines and policies to safely and appropriately transfer or move patients (or objects) of varying abilities, weights, and amounts of staff assistance.

Must be able to lift from the floor to overhead levels and carry items at waist level weight up to 40 pounds. Requires ability to participate in team lifting.

Must be able to operate patient lifting equipment and patient handling devices accurately and safely. Requires the ability to stoop, bend, reach, crouch, and squat.

Requires standing and walking for extensive periods of time as required for patient care, moving patients or supplies to other units, hourly rounding, bedside shift report and other nursing duties.

Requires full body range of motion including ability to reach from floor to overhead levels, manual and finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination.

Requires corrected vision, hearing to normal range, and ability to distinguish colors.

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES :

A. GENERIC FUNCTIONS :

See generic job description for clinical partner.

B. UNIQUE JOB FUNCTIONS CHARGE NURSE :

Assesses, guides, directs, and facilitates workflow on the unit. Recognizes when it is necessary for the charge nurse to assume a patient assignment and assumes that role.

Make staff assignments that reflect patient acuity, continuity of patient care, staff competency and the necessity of admit, transfer and discharge activity inherent on all clinical units.

Mentors staff, float, and agency personnel regarding unit / department / hospital policies, procedures / standards and annual goals and objectives.

Integrates new staff and agency staff into the culture of the unit.

Functions as a leader and role model for clinical staff.

Acts as clinical resource to unit staff. Demonstrates safe use of patient care equipment and can teach others to use equipment safely.

Identifies resource RN for LPN, PCA, and MST as necessary.

Monitors and evaluates nursing care given to each patient, by direct observation, consultation, and patient rounds.

Assesses unit / environmental safety during patient rounds and reports / corrects deficiencies.

Maintains awareness of Joint Commission standards, state codes, and practice acts. Routinely monitors documentation, compliance with standards, and facilitates rapid turn-around cycles.

Demonstrates excellent customer service skills.

Responds to patient and family concerns / complaints.

Reports significant events (patient / staff / physician / visitor) to administrative supervisors / manager and activates the chain of command per policy.

Provides input into performance appraisal of clinical staff on assigned shift by documenting feedback and / or communicating concerns to manager / supervisor.

Evaluates and provides adequate coverage for breaks.

Maintains fiscal responsibility by monitoring and adjusting staffing during shift and determines staffing needs for the following shift by utilizing sound clinical judgment.

Accepts personal responsibility to maintain competencies for direct patient care and team leadership.

Communicates and collaborates with bed placement and the clinical resource to ensure clinical placement is expedited.

PARTMENT OF PATIENT CARE SERVICES

CLINICAL PARTNER-REGISTERED NURSE

Originated 4 / 15 / 98

Revised 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 10 / 2015, 5 / 2021, 8 / 2021, 3 / 2022, 9 / 2022

CLINICAL PARTNER ADDENDUM - Registered Nurse

Unit Specific Requirements

Emergency Department RN

ACLS within the first 90 days of employment

PALS within 6 months from the date of hire

TNCC within one year from the date of hire

NIHSS certification within 3 months of hire date

One year of experience in Emergency nursing preferred or successful completion of ED residency

Emergency Department Resident

ACLS within the first 90 days of employment

PALS within 6 months from the date of hire

TNCC one year from the date of hire

NIHSS certification within 3 months of hire date

Licensed Registered Nurse

Chest Pain Evaluation Unit

ACLS within 3 months of hire

One year of experience in medical-surgical; telemetry experience preferred

Post Anesthesia Recovery

ACLS, PALS within 3 months of hire

Current PACU or ICU experience

Endoscopy

ACLS within 3 months of hire

Six months of previous experience in endoscopy

Day Surgery

ACLS and PALS within 3 months of hire

Six months of previous experience in surgery

Surgical Admissions and Discharge

ACLS and PALS within 3 months of hire

One year of experience as registered nurse or previous experience in a surgery admissions and discharge area

Main OR Perioperative

Successful completion of OR nurse residency or 1 year minimum previous OR experience

Main OR resident - Licensed RN

Critical Care / PCU Med-Surg RN

ACLS Within 3 months of hire

NIHSS certification within 3 months of hire

Minimum of one year of experience in Emergency / Critical Care nursing required

Critical Care / PCU Med-Surg Resident

ACLS within 6 months of hire

NIHSS certification within 3 months of hire

Licensed registered nurse

NRP within 3 months of hire

ACLS within 6 months of hire

Six months of labor and delivery experience as a registered nurse or successful completion of residency

LDR resident

NRP within 6 months of hire

ACLS within 6 months of hire

Licensed registered nurse

Mother Baby

NRP within 3 months of hire

Six months of mother baby experience as a registered nurse or successful completion of residency

Mother Baby Resident

NRP within 6 months of hire

Licensed registered nurse

Medical-Surgical

3 months of RN experience or successful completion of a residency program

Medical-Surgical Float Pool

ECG within 3 months of hire

Medical-Surgical Neurology / Stroke Unit

ECG interpretation competency within 3 months of hire

NIHSS certification within 3 months of hire

8 hours of Neuro education within 12 months of hire and annually thereafter

Medical-Surgical or Oncology Resident

Licensed RN with less than 3 months of experience in acute care

Surgical Joint / Spine

Minimum of one year medical-surgical experience preferred

Orthopedic certification within 3 years

Oncology RN

Successful completion of The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Oncology Fundamentals Course

Successful completion of The ONS Chemotherapy Biotherapy Course and VMC clinical chemotherapy competencies

Oncology Certification (OCN) for all RNs who administer chemotherapy within two years of hire

Neonatal Intensive Care RN

NRP within 3 months of hire

Six months' Level III NICU experience or successful completion of a NICU residency program

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit RN Resident

NRP within 6 months of hire.

Licensed RN with less than 6 months of Level III NICU experience

Pediatric RN

PALS within 3 months

NRP within 3 months

Six months of experience in Pediatric nursing

Pediatric Resident

PALS within 6 months of hire

NRP within 6 months of hire

Licensed RN with less than 6 months of Pediatric nursing experience

IRCU RN

ACLS within 3 months of hire

One Year experience in Radiology.

Experience in Emergency and Critical Care, preferred.

Clinical Administrative Resource (CAR)

ACLS and PALS within 3 months of hire.

Minimum of one, but prefer two, years of experience in Critical Care, PACU, or Emergency Services

Maternal Child Float Pool

NRP and PALS within 3 months of hire

Minimum 1 year of experience in mother baby, level 2 NICU including CPAP, or pediatric nursing care

Must be competent to perform patient assignments in mother baby care, pediatrics, and level 2 NICU including CPAP within 6 months of hire

Electrophysiology

Two years of EP Lab experience

Registered Cardiac Electrophysiology Specialist or acquired within twelve months of hire

General Medicine

Chemotherapy Certification obtained within 1 year of hire.

Job Qualifications : PREREQUISITES :

PREREQUISITES : BSN preferred.

BSN preferred.

Current licensure to practice as a registered nurse in the state of Washington.

Successful completion of a graduate nurse residency program orientation or six months' experience as a registered nurse.

AHA BLS for healthcare providers required.

Preferred for advancement to charge nurse role :

Certification

Experience-Two years' practice in clinical nursing / leadership in area of responsibility

Unit specific prerequisites-see addendum.

GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS :

Demonstrates leadership skills with ability to lead and manage a team, utilize clinical judgment, clinical inquiry, innovation, and systems thinking.

Able to communicate effectively in oral and written form in the English language.

Adheres to the dress code.

Demonstrates effective interpersonal skills that are community-centered, compassionate, and meets the needs of diverse and vulnerable populations.

Ability to communicate and work effectively with the physical and emotional development of all age groups.

Practices in a caring environment with excellent customer service skills.

Functions within ANA Standards and Nurse Practice Act.

Ability to access information and communicate in an electronic environment including but not limited to the use of order entry, e-mail, and computer documentation skills.

Self-directed in advancing professional practice through continuing education and research.