Registered Nurse

Overview

The Registered Nurse requires substantial specialized knowledge, judgement and nursing skills based upon the principles of psychological, biological, physical, and social sciences in the application of the nursing process in the respective departments in which assigned. The RN must collaborate with physicians and multidisciplinary team members; provide physical and psychological support to patients, friends, and families; supervising assigned team members and students.

Special Instructions

The Behavioral Nurse in the Emergency Department will focus on the behavioral health section of the ER. We treat a wide variety of patients that come through the ER for behavioral health services. Some are involuntary and some are voluntary. The behavioral health nurse would be responsible for the assessment, sitting, medication administration and all other duties as assigned in our locked behavioral health unit. They would talk with providers and deal directly with our inpatient behavioral health unit. When there are no patients in the behavioral health are this nurse will step out and help ER staff. These duties may include patient assessments, admission assessments, discharges, medication administration, transporting patients to other units and all other duties as assigned. They will have the same certification requirements as emergency room staff nurses and behavioral health experience is preferred. If there is no behavioral health experience they will orient on the inpatient behavioral health unit for 30 days before coming to the emergency department.

Responsibilities

Core Nursing Responsibilities

• Completes patient assessments, formulates plan of care, oversees implementation of plan of care, evaluates and adjusts plan of care utilizing critical thinking skills.

• Performs other nursing acts which are authorized or limited by the Board and which are consistent either with American Nurses Association Standards of Practice or with Standards of Practice established by nationally accepted organizations of registered nurses.

• Provides care, counsel, health teaching and promotion, utilizing Teach Back methodology as affirmation of comprehension.

• Administers medication, intravenous therapy and treatment as prescribed by a LIP.

• Provides supervision, delegation and follow-through to other personnel in the performance of activities relating to nursing care.

• Mentors and precepts students and orients new staff as assigned.

• Reports pertinent information up the chain of command to the Clinical Nurse Manager, Nurse Manager, or House Nurse Coordinator.

• Participates on various teams, committees, and performance improvement initiatives.

• Ensures a safe and secure environment for patients, coworkers, and self.

• Participates in Discharge Planning and Transition of Care and is able to define patient needs.

• Serves as a patient advocate and escalates patient-related concerns in a timely manner.

• Timely documents pertinent findings in the medical record.

• Assists patients in performing activities of daily living and functions as an active team member.

• Assumes responsibility for personal professional development.

• Utilizes effective communication skills and active listening and exhibits a compassionate and empathetic attitude.

• Practices Hands Off communication utilizing SBAR.

• Performs Bedside Shift Reporting utilizing SBAR unless contraindicated.

• Functions as a positive influence, role model, and adheres to the professional code of conduct.

• Respects dignity and confidentiality of all matters relating to patients.

• Performs other job duties as assigned.

Emergency Department Training Requirements

• State and federal regulations related to emergency services.

• Nursing management of trauma.

• Nursing management of cardiac related disorders.

• Performance of EKG procedures, EKG interpretation, and appropriate nursing intervention.

• Pharmacological intervention (IV therapy).

• Patient assessment (triage).

• Nursing management of pediatric emergencies.

• Medicolegal aspects, particularly related to proper documentation.

• Nursing management of obstetrical emergencies.

• Patient/family emotional response.

• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and airway management.

Behavioral Health Emergency Department Responsibilities

• Focuses on the behavioral health section of the Emergency Department.

• Provides care to both voluntary and involuntary behavioral health patients.

• Performs behavioral health patient assessments.

• Provides patient observation and monitoring.

• Administers medications as prescribed.

• Performs all nursing duties required within the locked behavioral health unit.

• Communicates directly with providers regarding patient care needs.

• Collaborates with the inpatient behavioral health unit regarding patient placement, treatment, and continuity of care.

• Assists Emergency Department staff when there are no patients in the behavioral health area.

• Performs patient assessments, admission assessments, and discharge procedures as needed.

• Administers medications and treatments as assigned.

• Assists with transporting patients to other units.

• Performs all other duties as assigned within the Emergency Department.

• Maintains the same certification requirements as Emergency Room Staff Nurses.

• If behavioral health experience is not present, completes a thirty (30) day orientation on the inpatient behavioral health unit prior to assignment in the Emergency Department.

Qualifications

Education

• Associate's Degree; Graduation from an accredited School of Nursing. Required

• Bachelor's Degree Preferred

Experience

• Up to 1 year Preferred

• Minimum of one (1) year acute care nursing experience.

• One (1) year of experience should be relevant to the specific department in which they will be working.

• Refer to addendums for additional requirements.

• Experience with Electronic Health Record Preferred.

Required Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with providers at all levels essential.

• Able to communicate clearly in writing and verbally and effectively influence others to achieve necessary outcomes.

• Demonstrated ability to follow direction and facilitate a working environment conducive to change, enabling positive outcomes in a highly complex system.

• Exhibit Critical Thinking Skills.

• Must possess basic computer skills.

• Ability to pass Medication Exam.

• Completion of hospital approved training program and documented competence in emergency care procedures as determined by the Director of Nursing Services.

• Moderate Sedation.

• Completion of Stroke Modules.

• Restraints.

• The nurse shall be adequately oriented to the unit policies, procedures, and equipment.

• Orientation shall include safety procedures, infection control practices, and performance improvement monitoring.

Licenses & Certifications

• Registered Nurse in State Required.

• BLS Required.

• De-Escalation Training within 6 months of hire Required.

• ACLS Required.

• Trauma Nurse Core Curriculum Certification Required.

• Pediatric Advanced Life Support Certification Required.

• NIH Stroke Certification Required.

• Advanced Dysrhythmia/EKG Required.

• Rural Trauma Team Development Course Preferred.

• Emergency Nurse Pediatric Course Preferred.