REGISTERED NURSE - INTENSIVE CARE UNIT - FULL TIME - Days / Evenings; or BAYLOR

REGISTERED NURSE – INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

SUMMARY

Coordinate total nursing care for patients using American Nurses Association standards for practice and the nursing process; participate in patient and family teaching; provide leadership working cooperatively with other health care providers

JOB DUTIES

PERFORMANCE:

Initiates accurate and ongoing assessment of physical, psychological problems of patients within the ICU.

Cares for each patient and determines priority of care based on physical, psychological and social needs as well as factors influencing flow throughout ICU during times of high census.

Analyzes assessment data to formulate nursing diagnoses and identify collaborative problems for each patient

Identifies expected outcomes individualized to the ICU patient based on assessment and nursing diagnoses and/or collaborative problems.

Formulates a plan of care for the ICU patient based on assessment, nursing diagnoses and/or collaborative problems, and outcome identification.

Implements a plan of care based on assessment, nursing diagnoses and/or collaborative problems, and outcome identification.

Evaluates and modifies the plan of care based on observable patient responses and attainment of expected outcomes

Assists physicians with patient rounds, procedures, exams.

Administers medications, including IV's, according to hospital policy and procedure

Adhere to established standards of practice including activities and behavior that characterize professional status

The Critical Care Nurse will be required to respond to a CODE BLUE within the Medical Center, following ACLS protocol.

Performs other duties as assigned.

AGE/DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

Uses standard principle of normal growth and development for the individual patients with concern for all aspects of development.

Performs age specific physical assessment for the adolescent, adult (including the gestational diabetic), and geriatric patients. Uses appropriate teaching strategies for the age and development level of the patient.

Communicates in a style that is appropriate for the adolescent, adult, and geriatric patient.

 SPECIFIC JOB DEMANDS

Strength: Medium Work - Lifting, Carrying, Pushing, Pulling 20 - 50 Lbs. occasionally, 10 - 25 Lbs. frequently or up to 10 Lbs. constantly.

Stooping: Occasionally - Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist, requiring full use of the lower extremities and back muscles.

Reaching: Frequently - Extending hand(s) or arm(s) in any direction.

Handling: Frequently - Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with hand or hands. Fingers are involved only to the extent that they are an extension of the hand, such as to turn a switch or shift automobile gears.

Fingering: Frequently - Picking, pinching, or otherwise working primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand or arm as in handling.

Feeling: Frequently - Noting attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature, or texture, by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.

Talking: Frequently - Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word to impart oral information to clients or to the public and to convey detailed spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.

Hearing: Frequently - Perceiving the nature of sounds by ear.

Near Acuity: Frequently - Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less.

Accommodation: Occasionally - Adjustment of lens of eye to bring an object into sharp focus. This factor is required when doing near point work at varying distances from the eye.

Color Vision: Frequently - Ability to identify and distinguish colors.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

Professional knowledge of nursing theory and practice at a level normally acquired through completion of an accredited School of Nursing.

Current State Nursing License.

Must obtain and maintain ACLS certification within 6 months of assignment to Intensive Care Unit.

Current BLS Healthcare Provider Card.  PALS certification required within one year of starting position.

Must obtain NIH stroke certification prior to the completion of orientation in the position. Thereafter, must maintain NIH stroke certification, annually.  Refer to Administrative Policy A-148 for specific stroke education requirements.

Communication skills necessary to effectively: Provide instruction to the patient and/or significant other; provide explanations to the patient and/or significant other and; explain nursing intervention.

Analytical skills necessary to develop and implement a plan for nursing care appropriate to the patient, and to solve problems concerning patient's mental or physical well-being.

Ability to concentrate and prioritize, plan and perform professional nursing care, resolve patient care problems, and interact with patients, families, and other team members - often during stressful situations.

Utilizes the nursing process as a framework for practice. In caring for the critically ill the nurse will collect data, identify and determine the priority of the patient’s problems/needs, formulate an appropriate plan of nursing care and evaluate the process and outcome of nursing care.

Will develop and maintain a level of educational background in the following areas, but not limited to: dysrhythmia recognition, interpretation and intervention of the same according to established policies and procedures; care of the cardiac patient, pulmonary patient, neurologic patient, multiple systems failure, trauma care, care of the PACU patient, and care of the post-operative patient.

The Critical Care Nurse requires knowledge of psychosocial, physiological, and therapeutic components specific to the care of the critically ill, through on-going educational activities.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Normal patient care environment with little exposure to excessive noise, dust, and temperature changes. A large part of work time is standing or walking.

Subject to certain distasteful patient care activities and exposure to communicable diseases.

May be scheduled overtime, weekend and/or holiday hours.

May be exposed to potential hazards such as chemical wastes, body wastes, fluids and other possible infectious materials.

DISCLOSURE

MMC commits to review, under the intent of this standard, and in coordination with medical professional opinion’s and physical demands job analysis performed by certified professionals, an individual’s ability to be reasonably accommodated within the role they are responsible and qualified to perform.

MMC is committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) and providing equal opportunity employment for qualified persons with disabilities. All employment practices and activities are conducted on a nondiscriminatory basis. Meadville Medical Center will follow any state or local law that provides individuals with disabilities greater protection that the ADA.

Every effort has been made to make your job description as complete as possible. However, this in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific tasks does not exclude them from the position if the task is similar, related, or is a logical assignment to the position, or is imperative for patient care and to meet emergency situations.