Job Description

General Purpose of Job:

The Registered Nurse provides professional nursing services for the care and treatment of patients. The Registered Nurse assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates individual patient care in a nursing department according to hospital policies, procedures and standards of care. Accepts responsibility for the supervision and direction of co-workers in the implementation of the nursing care plan. May be required to work in other departments according to patient/staffing needs. Performs other duties as assigned.

Essential Duties:

This job description is intended to cover the minimum essential duties assigned on a regular basis. Associates may be asked to perform additional duties as assigned by their leader. Leadership has the right to alter or modify the duties of the position.

• Assesses patient condition including ongoing head to toe assessments and initiates appropriate nursing and/or medical care in accordance with established guidelines.
• Coordinates and performs basic nursing care including patient hygiene, skin care, positioning, vital signs, pulmonary hygiene, feeding and monitoring of labs/x-ray test and results, toileting and recording intake and output.
• Performs nursing activities in accordance with hospital policies and procedures, Michigan Public Health Code and ANA Scope and Standards of Practice.
• Compliance with Infection Control Standards, including Standard/Universal Precautions, Hand Hygiene and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Develops, evaluates, updates and implements plan of care based upon the assessment of the patient.
• Identifies goals for discharge and actions to meet goals. Includes a working knowledge of discharge windows and discharge plans.
• Documents assessment, plan, care provided, and response of the patient in the medical record, appropriately.
• Delegates and directs specifics of care plan to Patient Care Technician or other health care workers according to those Caregivers' scope of practice.
• Engages in patient/family teaching.
• Reports pertinent data of patient's condition to charge nurse, physician, supervisor, and other medical personnel, as appropriate.
• Acts as liaison between members of the health care team, patient, and patient's family.
• Assumes preceptor role for new Caregivers and/or nursing students in conjunction with the nursing instructor.
• Administers medications, performs diagnostic procedures and treatments in accordance with Hospital policies and procedures.
• Administers and monitors blood product administration.
• Maintains IV access.
• Monitors and interprets telemetry for appropriate patients.
• Assesses and monitors patient nutritional status.
• Takes telephone orders from physicians' per policy using “read back” requirement.
• Notes physicians' orders on chart per policy and checks medication administration record for accuracy.
• Responds to call lights in a timely fashion.
• Provides Telemetry monitoring.
• Passes and collects meal trays and coordinates assistance with feeding.
• Responsibility for hourly rounding.
• Maintains equipment, supplies, and environmental safety.
• Demonstrates knowledge and use of unit specific equipment and appropriate supplies used to deliver the highest quality patient care.
• Coordinates admissions and discharges of assigned patients.
• Completes occurrence reports as necessary and reports to Charge RN or Supervisor.
• Participates in the accreditation process.
• Participates in the planning, implementation and evaluation of quality improvement activities within department, health system and/or community.
• Follows established HIPAA privacy procedures when using and/or disclosing protected health information.
• Maintains and protects patients rights under the HIPAA Privacy Standards.
• Accountability for maintaining a Healthy Work Environment by adhering to the “Commitment to my Co-workers” principles.
• Compliance with mandatory job related requirements (i.e. staff meetings, in-services, annual competencies and TB testing).
• Maintains knowledge of current trends in area of expertise and provides evidence of current competencies. .
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements