Registered Nurse RN - General Surgical - PT Days

Northeast Georgia Health System•Gainesville, GA

About The Position

The Registered Nurse works on a 32-bed General Surgery unit caring for patients across a range of surgical specialties, including bariatric surgery, urology, gynecologic oncology, general and vascular surgery, plastic surgery, podiatry, and other medical-surgical services during periods of high census. The unit has four rooms equipped with negative pressure and two rooms with bariatric ceiling lifts. Nurses monitor patients receiving IV patient-controlled analgesia and provide care for patients with nephrostomy tubes, continuous bladder irrigations, biliary drains, Jackson Pratt and Constavac drains, epidurals, chest tubes, tracheostomy tubes, and peritoneal dialysis. Nurses who have completed the relevant competencies may access and de-access Portacaths and perform negative pressure wound dressing changes. The RN delivers safe, effective, and efficient care that meets population-specific guidelines, using the nursing process and evidence-based practice to address patients’ clinical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs. The role involves collaborating with patients, families, physicians, advanced practice providers, and the broader healthcare team; leading interdisciplinary rounds; delegating appropriately while remaining accountable for care; and supporting smooth transitions across the continuum. The RN contributes to professional practice and unit improvement by seeking feedback, pursuing lifelong learning, identifying quality-improvement opportunities, supporting shared governance, participating in efforts to improve patient experience and employee engagement, and serving as a resource for students. The position also calls for flexibility, effective prioritization, respectful teamwork, cultural intelligence, and appropriate de-escalation training certification.

Requirements

Licensed to practice as an RN in Georgia.
Associate’s degree, ADN, or diploma required.
At least 1 year of RN experience, with demonstrated competence in RN I performance expectations or meeting experience requirements upon hire.
Basic computer skills necessary to operate computer systems used on the unit.
Ability to prioritize, recognize problems, and apply evidence-based practice.
Ability to communicate effectively and work collaboratively with patients, families, and colleagues.
Ability to delegate appropriately and demonstrate critical thinking.

Nice To Haves

BSN.

Responsibilities

Provide safe, effective, and efficient nursing care that meets population-specific guidelines.
Use the nursing process and evidence-based practice to meet patients’ and families’ clinical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs.
Care for patients across the unit’s surgical specialties and other medical-surgical services during high census.
Monitor patients receiving IV patient-controlled analgesia and care for patients with the drains, tubes, and therapies specified for the unit.
Access and de-access Portacaths and perform negative pressure wound dressing changes when appropriately competent.
Serve as a highly engaged partner on the care team and respond to team members’ requests for assistance.
Lead interdisciplinary rounds to support appropriate care and smooth transitions.
Communicate clearly with patients, families, physicians, advanced practice providers, and other healthcare team members, using safety and error-prevention tools.
Delegate care appropriately while retaining accountability for the quality of care.
Seek feedback, develop clinical practice, and identify quality-improvement opportunities.
Support students as a resource and pursue lifelong learning and self-development.
Support unit-based shared governance, self-care activities, quality-of-care activities, and efforts to improve patient experience, employee engagement, and nurse-sensitive indicators.
Promote respectful, healthy team relationships and model safe work hours, time management, efficiency, and stewardship.
Achieve and maintain de-escalation training certification as appropriate for the work unit.