General Summary: The Registered Nurse (RN) assesses, plans, implements, evaluates, and provides nursing care to assigned patients utilizing the nursing process to facilitate the patient’s progression toward optimal health. The RN provides, directs, and guides patient/family teaching and readiness for discharge to prepare the patient for self, home, or further professional care. The RN is actively involved in department activities, transdisciplinary team activities, and LifeCare activities to ensure individualized, patient-centered health care for all patient populations admitted to LifeCare Hospital.
Patient Population: Has contact with patients in a clinical setting; understands and demonstrates appropriate behavior when interacting with patients in the adult (18-65 yrs of age) and geriatric (65 and older) populations.
Supervision: Oversees and directs delegated functions of LPNs/LVNs, CNAs, Patient Care Technicians, Mental Health Assistants, Monitor Technicians, and Unit Clerks.
Standard Essential Functions
- The knowledge and skills necessary to perform the position requirements are demonstrated through the successful completion of competencies established for the position, to include the population served and other special needs of patients or customers served by the department.
- Adheres to LifeCare policies, procedures, all safety plans, and all standards imposed by regulatory organizations.
- Regular attendance and timeliness are required.
Job-Specific Essential Functions
- Assesses the needs of patients in basic and complex situations, identifies potential or actual needs, and communicates changes in patient status, needs, or condition to the supervisor and physician when applicable and documents in the patient chart.
- Plans the care of patients and their families in response to identified needs, throughout the continuum of care, in collaboration with the transdisciplinary team. Documents the plan and revisions.
- Implements the plan of care by providing nursing interventions directly and/or appropriately delegating care to others, demonstrating competent and proficient nursing practice. Responds appropriately and assists others in responding to emergencies calmly and effectively.
- Initiates and coordinates the evaluation of the care provided and documents the patient’s response to care provided by nursing and other transdisciplinary team members.
- Facilitates the identification and resolution of patients’ admission, transfer, and discharge needs throughout the course of care in collaboration with the transdisciplinary team. Identifies individual learning needs of patients and families and provides education in a manner that meets their special needs.
- Communicates with the Charge Nurse or Nursing Supervisor on changing patient needs or acuity for appropriate staffing. Facilitates the admission and transfer of patients, including appropriate patient placement.
Additional Duties If Acting As Charge RN
- In collaboration with nursing management, coordinates management activities for the nursing staff to ensure that optimum, achievable care is delivered. Acts as a resource person.
- As requested, reviews schedules to ensure adequate staffing on all shifts, adjusts staff as necessary by transferring individual staff members from one unit to another, arranges and approves necessary overtime and/or unscheduled shifts, and calls in relief staff.
- Makes rounds on all patients to determine adequacy of planning and implementation of care in collaboration with other team leaders.
- Reports all unusual occurrences, problems, and facts of occurrence through proper channels, and conducts a thorough investigation to provide a written report for nursing administration.
Values
- We COLLABORATE: We develop our treatment plans in collaboration with physicians, clinicians, and the patient's families.
- We ADVOCATE: We advocate on behalf of every patient and family.
- We RESPECT: We recognize and value the dignity, rights, and resources of each patient.
- We EDUCATE: We educate our team members and families with purpose and compassion.
- We SERVE: We serve as a TEAM with integrity at all levels, focused on achieving the best possible outcomes for our patients.
