ER RN: Mixed Shift (Full-time)

Pagosa Springs Medical Center • Pagosa Springs, CO

7h • $33 - $51 • Onsite

About The Position

The Emergency Department nurse provides urgent and emergent care to all patients presenting to the Emergency Department for care. The employee’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Triaging and assessing the patients clinical condition and prioritizing his / her care; Administering emergency nursing care and procedures required to stabilize emergent patient conditions; Monitoring/reassessment of patients; Educating patients and their families; Collaborating with the physicians; Documenting assessments, change in condition and treatments initiated; and Mentoring new nurses. Why Join PSMC? Located in the beautiful mountain town of Pagosa Springs, PSMC offers the unique opportunity to serve a rural community while working in a mission-driven healthcare facility. As the only hospital and EMS service in Archuleta County, we value innovation, collaboration, and compassionate care. About Our Community Pagosa Springs is not only a wonderful place to work, but also a wonderful place to live. Pagosans are warm and friendly people, proud of their community and proud of their medical center. The Pagosa Springs area boasts great public schools in addition to a variety of alternative education options. The region offers numerous recreational opportunities. Wolf Creek ski area is just 24 miles away and is surrounded by trails for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. Hiking, biking, ATV riding, hunting, boating, fly-fishing, and kayaking opportunities abound in the warmer months. Pagosa Springs is home to the world’s deepest geothermal hot spring and is located one hour east of Durango, CO and a short drive north of the New Mexico state line.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Graduate of an accredited RN program.
• Current Colorado licensure as RN, in good standing.
• Current AHA BLS certification for healthcare providers is required.
• Current TNCC certification is required.
• Current ACLS certification or attendance and successful completion at next available course (within 3 months).
• Current PALS certification or attendance and successful completion at next available course (within 3 months).
• Basic computer knowledge (Microsoft Office, electronic health record).
• Demonstrates ability to read, write, and clearly express one’s self in English 100% of the time.
• Demonstrates ability to listen.
• Demonstrates ability to express or exchange ideas by means of spoken work, to impart oral information to others or the public and to convey detailed spoken instructions to others accurately, loudly, or quickly.

Nice To Haves

• BSN, preferred.
• Minimum of two (2) years experience in the Emergency Department is preferred.
• CEN (Certified Emergency Nurse) certification is preferred.
• Additional languages preferred.

Responsibilities

• Triaging and assessing the patients clinical condition and prioritizing his / her care
• Administering emergency nursing care and procedures required to stabilize emergent patient conditions
• Monitoring/reassessment of patients
• Educating patients and their families
• Collaborating with the physicians
• Documenting assessments, change in condition and treatments initiated
• Mentoring new nurses
• Practices within the RN scope of care as defined by the State of Colorado.
• Provides patient care, as ordered, within the RN scope of practice, including comprehensive patient assessment, patient care planning, initiating/directing treatments, reassessment/monitoring response, evaluation of care provided and patient/family education.
• Assess patient’s clinical status at intervals according to facility or health care organization policies and procedures to include the patient’s: cardiovascular system; respiratory system and airway management needs; neurological system; hemodynamic stability; pain and comfort needs; and mental status.
• Triages patients utilizing ESI (Emergency Severity Index) guidelines.
• Monitors patients for changes in condition and reports any abnormal findings to the Emergency Department physician and/or surgeon.
• Performs appropriate treatments (i.e. initiates IV, oxygen therapy, catheters, NG tubes, orthopedic braces, splints and devices and EKG, etc.) as ordered by physician in an accurate and timely manner.
• Initiates appropriate nursing interventions in the care of the patient including but not limited to: managing patient recovery from anesthesia – deep sedation, conscious sedation and local anesthesia; protecting patient from injury caused by positioning, thermal sources, and extraneous objects; communicating the patient’s current status throughout the Emergency Department continuum of care; providing acute pain and comfort management as needed; administering medications correctly by implementing the 7-rights of safe medication practices (i.e., right patient, right medication, right dose, right time, right route, right indication, right documentation); performing interventions to maintain the integrity of the patient’s wound and tissue perfusion at or above baseline levels; performing interventions to maintain the status of the patient’s genitourinary, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, endocrine, respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological systems, and fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balances at or above baseline levels; performing interventions to protect patient from infection; managing patient’s other co-morbid conditions as applicable; managing patient’s fluid as prescribed; assessing knowledge level of the patient and/or designated support person and providing education regarding expected psychosocial response, nutritional management, medication management, pain and comfort management, wound management, and expected responses to the treatment plan; involving patient and/or designated support person actively in decisions affecting his or her plan of care and the rehabilitation process; protecting the patient’s rights, dignity and privacy; providing age-specific, culturally competent, ethical care within legal standards of practice; providing consistent and comparable care regardless of the setting; and evaluation of the patient’s progress towards outcomes.
• Performs nursing tasks, as ordered, including administration of medication, IV therapy, using appropriate technique and appropriate dose calculations. Operates infusion pumps, and documents accurately in the electronic health record.
• Administers IV infusion of medications prescribed by the provider.
• Researches each medication to be given and knows the appropriate doses, times to be infused, side effects, and contraindications etc.
• Follows the seven (7) medication rights (right patient, right medication, right dose, right time, right route, right indication and right documentation) and reduces the potential for medication errors; successfully scans patient and medication prior to administration (not < 85% of the time).
• Demonstrates the ability to perform age specific nursing care by reviewing the History and Physical (H&P) and performs reassessments to identify any changes in patient condition.
• Ensures accurate completion of the Pre-Operative Checklist and gives face to face handoff to the OR Circulator before transfer of patient to surgery.
• Ensures the patient signs consent for any invasive procedure prior to being medicated.
• Initiates and completes all department specific, initial intake patient assessments following established documentation requirements in the electronic medical record.
• Transfers care, when needed, following hospital procedure, utilizing the SBAR format.
• Evaluates the patient’s general condition, including obtaining vital signs, height and weight and notifies the provider of any abnormal findings.
• Demonstrates the ability to adequately assess and reassess pain. Utilizes appropriate pain management techniques. Educates the patient and family regarding pain management.
• Promotes wellness by providing education materials to patients and communicating physician instructions and orders.
• Works with the provider to reinforce patient education and prior patient teaching surrounding disease state, treatment plan, and medications.
• Utilizes the National Patient Safety goals in providing patient care.
• Ensures patients’ next appointments are scheduled, if needed, and appropriate follow-up is understood.
• Triages patient phone calls, concerns appropriately and sends messages in the electronic health record to appropriate parties.
• Participates in the coordination of care by bringing any concerns to his/her direct supervisor and/or the assigned medical staff providers.
• Communicates effectively with ordering provider to ensure that all orders are accurate and complete.
• Reviews all provider orders associated with a patient encounter, enters orders into the electronic health record as needed.
• Demonstrates knowledge of treatment modalities used in general and department specific patient care.
• Follows protocols for symptoms management and monitoring parameters based on selected therapies.
• Performs approved nursing procedures as defined by specific department and successful completion of associated competencies.
• Completes all Cerner documentation required in accordance with competencies, trainings, and PSMC policy and procedures.
• Completes, verifies correct charges drop for each case, every day.
• Utilizes eFax to process faxes.
• Scans records into patient charts as appropriate.
• Uses approved abbreviations.
• Assists providers, other department, and hospital staff.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possesses the ability to assess data reflective of the patient’s status and interpret the information needed to identify each patient’s requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs.
• Uses at least two identifiers when confirming the identity of each patient (i.e., name and date of birth).
• Efficiently and accurately reconcile and document the patient’s current medications and allergies.
• Efficiently and accurately complete and document necessary assessments / histories with the patient.
• Performs all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors.
• Formulates a teaching plan based on identified patient learning needs and evaluates effectiveness of learning; family is included in teaching as appropriate, from admission to discharge.
• Demonstrates knowledge of cardiac monitoring and can identify dysrhythmias.
• Demonstrates the ability to take appropriate action based on rhythm interpretation.
• Assists with department specific, provider performed exams and procedures.
• Identifies and addresses psycho-social needs of patients and families. Appropriately adjusts care for patients of all cultural and religious backgrounds.
• Carries out medical and surgical asepsis during treatments and special procedures. Utilizes universal precautions with all patients.
• Reduces potential for infection by instituting appropriate level of infection precautions based on patient condition.
• Consults other departments, as needed and as appropriate, to provide for an inter-disciplinary approach to the patient’s needs.
• Demonstrates the knowledge of medications and IV fluids and/or blood products and their correct administration based on age of the patient and the patient’s clinical condition.
• Utilizes required templates and/or forms when documenting within the electronic health record.
• Presents / provides patients with appropriate patient education, discharge planning and visit summaries at the end of each visit.
• Rooms all patients in a timely fashion and in a professional manner.
• Demonstrate willingness to perform tasks and complete assigned work, does not leave unfinished tasks for others to complete.
• Prioritizes tasks so that the most important tasks are completed first.
• Initiates action to prevent the occurrence of any potential problems or nonconformities relating to patient care or supporting activities.
• Initiates, recommends or provides solutions through designated channels.
• Able to assist supervisor in oversight, supervision, education, and leadership of clinical support staff.
• Serves as a mentor to other staff, providing continuous learning support.
• Preps ED exam rooms for patients and maintains clean and sanitary exam/patient areas.
• Stocks and maintains medical supplies in the ED exam rooms so necessary items are available for provider/patient.
• Creates and maintains a sterile field for appropriate procedures.
• Assists anesthesia with conscious sedation for procedures.
• Performs appropriate treatments as ordered by physician in an accurate and timely manner.
• Possesses the skills required to perform hemodynamic monitoring, pain management (i.e. PCA cardiac monitoring, vascular access device management and airway management).
• Interprets information accurately from various noninvasive and invasive monitors.
• Pursues professional growth and maintains specialized knowledge and skills in Emergency nursing practice by participating in Emergency Department professional organizations and on-going continuing education/in-service training with emphasis in practice.
• Meets the qualifications as set forth herein.

Benefits

• Benefits include generous paid time off, separate sick leave, health, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, long-term disability and option for short-term disability, and retirement plan with employer contribution.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees