Registered Nurse, RN - Spinecare

DCH Health System•Tuscaloosa, AL

About The Position

The Registered Nurse coordinates total nursing care for patients, participates in patient and family teaching, and provides leadership by working cooperatively with other team members and disciplines to maintain professional nursing practice standards in the clinical setting. The nurse supervises LPNs, nursing assistants, unit secretaries, and technicians, and may act in a charge nurse capacity as assigned. Care is provided to adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients. The role includes assessing patients on an ongoing basis; planning, directing, supervising, and evaluating care; coordinating individualized treatment plans with physicians and other disciplines; administering medications, IV therapy, and treatments; and educating patients and significant others. The nurse documents and reports patient observations, test results, assessments, and care, follows safety practices, and responds to emergencies. Duties also include monitoring vital signs for patients recovering from moderate sedation, assisting with specified Medtronic and Boston Scientific devices after completing vendor training, and performing assigned callback duties. The position requires attendance at mandatory in-service programs, required training and education, and unit or departmental meetings. Scheduling flexibility may be necessary to meet patient-care needs. The nurse must comply with DCH Health System policies, behavioral and performance standards, and safety requirements, and use electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software, and the intranet.

Requirements

Current Alabama RN licensure.
ACLS and BLS certification upon hire or within 90 days of the start date.
Ability to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English.

Responsibilities

Assess each assigned patient on an ongoing basis, including normal systems review and behavioral, psychological, developmental, and age-related factors.
Plan, direct, supervise, and evaluate nursing care according to identified patient problems; act as charge nurse when assigned.
Collaborate and coordinate with physicians and other disciplines on individualized treatment and care plans, including participation in team conferences and care planning.
Administer medications and IV therapy, and perform treatments according to policy and procedure.
Plan and provide patient and significant-other education based on relevant patient factors and identified barriers to learning.
Follow safety practices and help maintain a safe, clean environment.
Report pertinent patient observations and test results to appropriate personnel and document them accurately and concisely.
Document patient care assessments, evaluations, activities, and observations according to policies and procedures.
Assign nursing care and other duties to team members according to patient needs and personnel capabilities and qualifications.
Assist with or initiate emergency measures for sudden adverse developments, such as cardiac arrest.
Record blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and oxygen saturation for recovering patients with moderate sedation.
Assist with programming and refilling Medtronic pump patients after completing Medtronic training.
Assist with programming Medtronic dorsal column stimulators and Boston Scientific stimulators after completing the required vendor training.
Perform assigned callback duties, including taking off calls, pulling charts, completing orders, assisting with forms and physician chart reviews, and returning patient calls.
Attend mandatory in-service programs, required training and education, and unit or departmental service meetings.
Maintain applicable DCH performance, patient and employee satisfaction, financial, compliance, behavioral, and safety standards; use required electronic systems and follow DCH policies.
Perform other duties as assigned.