Registered Nurse - PEDS Med/Surg

Northwell Health

About The Position

The Registered Nurse provides age-specific care to an assigned group of pediatric medical-surgical patients using the nursing process: assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation. The nurse collaborates with physicians and other healthcare team members to coordinate and carry out procedures and treatments, and uses clinical judgment and leadership skills to coordinate patient care and direct or delegate the work of the patient care team. The role includes assessing patients’ physical and psychosocial health, identifying needs and expected outcomes, developing and implementing individualized care plans, administering treatments and medications, documenting care and patient responses, and responding effectively to emergencies. The nurse supports patients and families through education, emotional support, discharge planning, and appropriate referrals. The role also contributes to evaluating outcomes and improving care delivery on the unit.

Requirements

Graduate from an accredited School of Nursing.
Current New York State license to practice as a Registered Professional Nurse.
One to two years of medical-surgical nursing experience.
Must enroll in an accredited BSN program within two years and obtain a BSN degree within five years of the job entry date.
Specialized certifications as needed.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing preferred.
Pediatric nursing experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Interview patients and explain policies and procedures to patients and significant others; review charts and respond to questions courteously and accurately.
Assess physical health, including gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, and neurological status; mobility, sensory deficits, prostheses use, skin condition, pain, and pain management needs.
Assess psychosocial health, coping mechanisms, comprehension, knowledge, cultural and ethnic requirements, and patient expectations of care; document psychological status and support needs.
Identify patient problems, expected outcomes, outcome measures, and teaching needs based on psychosocial and developmental assessments.
Develop individualized patient goals and care plans, set priorities, coordinate appropriate use of supplies, equipment, and medication, and collaborate with physicians and other care team members.
Implement and reassess the plan of care, revise it as appropriate, administer prescribed treatments, use patient-care equipment correctly, and maintain required safety precautions.
Provide emotional support to patients and significant others; communicate effectively with families and caretakers; maintain a calm, quiet, and restful environment.
Perform procedures safely and efficiently, observe and report patient conditions during procedures, and document treatment, activity, condition, and responses to interventions.
Respond rapidly and effectively to emergencies involving patients, staff, and self.
Evaluate patient outcomes and the effectiveness of care; conduct variance analysis and contribute to designing, implementing, and evaluating systems to improve unit care.
Interpret and implement physician-prescribed treatment regimens; assist physicians with treatments and diagnostic procedures; keep the Patient Care Manager/designee and/or physician informed of relevant changes.
Use clinical judgment to delegate assignments and ensure they are completed in a timely manner; provide direction to other care team members.
Perform grade I-IV decubitus care and preventive skin care; apply simple dressings using aseptic technique; apply warm and cold compresses and perform irrigations according to facility procedures.
Administer and document medications safely and correctly; understand medication actions, dosages, side effects, and patient implications; prepare local solutions and meet the medication administration examination standard.
Educate patients and significant others about conditions and drug and food interactions; identify teaching opportunities and resources, evaluate teaching effectiveness through feedback, and document the results.
Participate in early discharge planning, provide discharge instructions, and coordinate appropriate referrals for post-hospital care.
Perform related duties as required.