Summary:

A Registered Professional Nurse is responsible for the delivery of patient care through the process of assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation. In addition, the Registered Professional Nurse prescribes, delegates, coordinates, supervises and evaluates patient teaching and the activities of the ancillary nursing personnel while maintaining the standards of professional nursing. The Registered Nurse is able to provide direct and indirect care to patients. 

Responsibilities:

• Collects subjective and objective health data as determined by the patient’s condition or needs with the involvement of the patient/significant other/health providers to complete patient/family assessment and formulate problems.
• Relative data are documented in a retrievable form and completed within specified time frame.
• Develops written plan of care that prescribes interventions to obtain expected outcomes that are individualized, age appropriate and reflect current nursing practice.
• Implements interventions in plan of care in a safe and appropriate manner with clear documentation.
• Coordinates care to provide continuity through the continuum and involves multidisciplinary team as needed. Plan of care reflects potential needs and is updated as needed. Appropriate referrals are initiated.
• Provides health teaching using methods appropriate to the situation, patient’s developmental level, learning needs, readiness, ability to learn, language preference and culture.
• Documentation reflects evaluation of patient’s progress towards outcomes with revised diagnosis, outcomes and plan of care.
• Evaluates and documents patient progress towards attainment of outcomes. Evaluation is systematic, ongoing and criterion-based.
• Fosters positive physician/patient relations.
• Assigns or delegates tasks to team members based on the needs and condition of the patient, potential for harm, stability of the patient’s condition, complexity of task, and predictability of the outcome as well as the educational level, licensure, and current competence of the staff member.
• Uses supplies and equipment based on safety, effectiveness, availability and cost to provide expected patient outcome, documents use in the medical record and records charges appropriately.
• Follows nursing policy and procedure in administration of medications, IV therapy and blood therapy. Recognizes and responds to overt reactions. Reports errors promptly.
• Complies with time-keeping system. Accrues no unexcused absences, and no more than three unscheduled absences.
• Follows hospital and/or unit policy for dress and personal hygiene.
• Follows necessary safety precautions, hospital policies and departmental policies.
• Attends infection control and safety programs.
• Follows hospital policies and/or departmental rules.
• Follows the CHRISTUS Health Guidelines related to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), designed to prevent or detect unauthorized disclosure of Protected Health Information (PHI)
• Associate timely completes all required educational assignments.
• Identifies normal and abnormal parameters to the patient’s physiological, psychological, cultural, developmental and spiritual needs.
• Physiological measures are planned to manage (prevent or control) specific problems and are related to goals.
• Psychosocial measures are specific to the patient’s problems and to the nursing care goals. 23. Teaching-learning principles are incorporated into the plan of care and objectives for learning are in behavioral terms.
• Interventions are based on the identification of changing patient needs, revise diagnoses, outcomes and the plan of care.
• Establishes the plan priorities with the patient, family and others as appropriate.
• Identifies the patient and family stages in the grieving process. Allows opportunity for individual to express and receive support in the grieving process (i.e. notifies clergy).
• Seeks experiences that reflect current clinical practice in order to maintain current clinical skills and competence. Acquires knowledge and skills appropriate to the specialty area and practice setting.
• Identifies areas of strength as well as areas where professional development would be beneficial.
• Contributes to an environment that is conducive to the clinical education of nursing students, other health care students and other associates as appropriate.
• Participates in quality of care activities as appropriate to education and position. Identifies aspects of care important for quality monitoring. Development of policies/procedures and practice guidelines. Collection of data to monitor quality and effectiveness of nursing care.
• Uses research findings in practice to develop plan of care and interventions.
• Participate in 80% of prescribed in-service programs and departmental meetings. When unable to attend (20% maximum) follows up to obtain information discussed.
• Participates on committees, councils and teams.
• Must agree to the Float Standards 

Requirements:

Education/Skills

• Graduate of a State Board School of Nursing or equivalent.

Experience

• Twelve (12) months experience preferred.

Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications 

Required:

• Current license or permit to practice professional nursing in the State of Texas.
• AHA BLS – within two (2) weeks of employment
• Medication Competence – within two (2) weeks of employment
• Basic Dysrhythmia (if applicable) – within twelve (12) weeks of employment

Required if working in Critical Care Areas:

• TNCC- within six (6) months of employment if working in MICU or Neuro ICU
• Critical Care Classes and Examinations –within in sixteen (16) weeks of employment
• ACLS within sixteen (16) weeks of employment if working ICU, Telemetry, or ED
• ENPC or PALS Certification – within twelve (12) months of employment if working in the ED.

Work Schedule:

TBD

Work Type:

Per Diem As Needed