Registered Nurse (RN) Elder Life Nurse (FT M-F ) - Med Surg

Registered Nurse (RN) Elder Life Nurse (FT M-F )

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Job Summary

The Elder Life Nurse Specialist will provide support to the nursing staff, medical providers, volunteers and care management focused on delirium prevention in the elderly inpatient care.

Reports to :

Job Specific Responsibilities

Daily assignments may include but are not limited to :

• Coordinates care to prevent delirium onset in the elderly inpatient population.
• Educates nursing staff, physicians, and assists with educating volunteers
• Responsible for assisting coordinator with patient screening for delirium.
• Assists coordinator with creation of any order sets and protocols specific to delirium prevention.
• Facilitates care management in collaboration with the Program Director, Geriatrician, Primary Provider, and Elder Life Coordinator for geriatric patients at risk for delirium.
• Performs comprehensive geriatric clinical assessment and chart / medication review of patients to determine if appropriate candidate and determine interventions.
• Implements practical strategies to prevent cognitive and functional decline.
• Participates in multidisciplinary rounds for specified units if needed.
• Rounds on specified nursing units to ensure interventions are in place.
• Ensures inpatient-outpatient transition and continuity of care on an on-going basis.
• Identifies, implements, and reports quality improvement initiatives pertaining to patient safety, patient care and care efficiency.
• Champions national standards of care for the Geriatric population, specific to delirium prevention.
• Ensures provider satisfaction with the delirium prevention measures.
• Serves on the Delirium Committee.
• Serves as a liaison with other health care specialties in the hospital and with community agencies to facilitate optimal inpatient care and referrals after discharge.
• Performs other related duties and responsibilities as required.

Education and Experience

Required Licensures / Certifications / Registrations

Skills and Abilities

Interaction with Other Departments and Other Relationships

This position will interact closely with nursing staff, medical providers, and various department staff within the hospital

Physical Capabilities

Work is of medium demand; walking, sitting and standing most of the time while on duty. Occasional lifting of patients with assistance may be required. Adequate hand / eye coordination and fine motor skills required. Talking and hearing is essential in instructing and supervising of nursing personnel and in receiving doctor's orders and patient's condition reports. Near visual acuity required to work with charts and records and to observe patients.

UMC Health System provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.