UI Health - Extra Help Staff Nurse I - Dialysis

Position Summary

The Staff Nurse I provides direct patient care and takes the initiative to improve patient outcomes by integrating Shared Leadership, Evidence Based Practice, Relationship Based Care, and standards of nursing excellence into clinical practice. This position integrates professional practice model, current standards of practice and clinical experience to provide "quality" patient care as measured by established nursing quality standards and other governing/accrediting health care bodies. The Staff Nurse I engages and obtains information from patient and/or family to advocate for the patient, develops an appropriate patient educational plan, and responds to patient's changing needs while sharing information and collaborating with other members of the health care team to promote effective patient care. The Staff Nurse I participates in organizational, departmental, and shared leadership activities; supports department and unit goals in daily behavior.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Develops, implements, and updates the patient’s plan of care based on on-going assessment of the patient and input from the patient’s family.

• Shares information and collaborates with other members of the health care team to promote effective patient care.

• Verifies and implements orders from physician, physician assistant and/or advance practice nurse by performing interventions as prescribed by the provider and documenting accurately in the electronic medical record.

• Engages and obtains information from patient and/or family to develop an appropriate patient educational plan.

• Recognizes symptoms, establishes priorities, and responds to patient’s changing needs.

• Engages support personnel by delegating appropriate tasks per the Illinois State Nurse Practice Act and provides support and feedback.

• Advocates for patients, families, and their significant others, the community, and the nursing profession.

• Integrates theoretical knowledge, evidence-based research, current standards of practice and clinical experience to provide “quality” patient care as measured by established nursing quality standards and other governing/accrediting health care bodies.

• Assumes role of Charge Nurse when assigned, utilizing appropriate resources and tools.

• Collaborates with other nurses to identify, promote, and provide positive learning experiences for staff and students.

• Serves as preceptor and/or resource to other nursing, support staff and students.

• Takes responsibility for continued professional growth/development by identification of learning needs and initiates strategies to meet such needs.

• Other duties as assigned.

• Dialysis Specific Duties & Responsibilities

A. Patient Care

1. Provides patient care to dialysis patients in the hemodialysis unit and documents care given in the patient’s records.

2. Maintains and annually updates medical summary and patient care plan for assigned patients. Reviews and revises these summaries with the Physician supervising the management of said patients.

a. Perform chart audits to ensure compliance with hospital policy and regulatory requirements

b. Tracks and records Immunization of assigned patients

c. Ensures complete and appropriate documentation of patient’s treatment in the EMR

3. Monitors the care given to primary patients, including coordinating consultations, obtaining records and reports, reviewing and documenting monthly laboratory results and medication regimen.

4. Complete all dialysis and other clinical competency requirements; Participate in periodic in services and reviews as necessary to maintain updated clinical competency and certification.

5. Supervises and/or administers hemodialysis treatments to assigned patients. Takes direct patient care assignments as needed based on operational needs as determined by the Charge Nurse/Administrative Nurse I/AN III/PCD. Specific patient assignment is to be coordinated by the charge nurse.

6. Attends and participates in the interdisciplinary care conferences (a.k.a. Lab Reviews) when primary patients are being presented.

7. Acts as a resource for patients and family members.

8. Performs other nursing duties as assigned.

B. Nurse–Patients Relationship

1. Explains nursing intervention to the patient and/or significant others.

2. Assesses patient’s informational needs and learning readiness.

3. Uses teaching strategies and communication skills to meet informational needs of patients/significant others.

4. Evaluates and revises the teaching strategies while supporting and promoting the patient’s right to participate in his care.

C. Leadership Role

1. Take charge nurse assignments. As a Charge nurse will be responsible for monitoring compliance with the Nursing and regulatory standards in the dialysis unit on a day to day basis and during training/orientation for certification. Charge nurse responsibilities may include but are not limited to: Participate in rounding with the Nephrologists and documenting and verifying orders in the Physician Order Sheet (POS) Review and enter orders/changes in the medical record. Assist with patient-staff assignments Patient assessment Responsible for all calls and problems arising in the unit Follow up on all new orders and lab follow up Review treatment sheet, orders and prescriptions for completion. Discharge patients on treatment sheet and in computer Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.